Director of Communications

Mr. Cooper Welch

The CISD Public Relations Department is dedicated to providing two-way communication between the district and parents, students, employees, our local communities and businesses.

As the Director of Communications, Mr. Welch is responsible for promoting awareness of the district, protecting the reputation of CISD, and encouraging participation among stakeholders through increased community involvement opportunities. He has 12 years of experience in media and public relations, and has won awards for his journalism, graphic design, and media coverage at the state and national level.

Mr. Welch joined Community ISD in August 2020 after working for almost a decade in NCAA athletic departments.

Before becoming a part of Brave Nation, Mr. Welch served on the Lamar University Media Relations staff from January 5, 2018 until August 14, 2020, and was the primary media relations contact for baseball, volleyball, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's cross country.

Welch came to LU after serving in the Jacksonville University media relations department in Jacksonville, Fla. from August 2015 through January 2018, where he was the Associate Director of Media Relations. He served in several roles in the Dolphin athletic department, including primary coverage of men's basketball, baseball, volleyball, men's soccer, men's and women's golf, softball, and beach volleyball. He was also the secondary contact for football, and the head graphic designer for the department.

Prior to his work in Jacksonville, Welch worked as a graduate assistant in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Sports Information Department. He received his Master's Degree in Sports and Recreation Management from A&M-Commerce in August of 2015.

Welch also served as a graduate research assistant in the Health & Human Performance Department of A&M-Commerce.

Welch received his bachelor's degree from A&M-Commerce in 2013, majoring in Radio and Television. He graduated Cum Laude with a 3.6 GPA. During his undergrad degree he worked for three years at 88.9 KETR as an award-winning news reporter and sports analyst.

Cooper Welch is married to Mikala Welch, the Executive Director of the CISD Education Foundation. Mikala, formerly Mikala DeVillier, is a two-time Lamar University alum. The couple enjoy travel, trying new restaurants and experiences, and board games, and live in Josephine with their two dogs, Poppy and Clara.