Kris Cooper has more than twenty years experience in the computer and software development field and is the author of papers on topics including user interface design, database design, and using the web in a learning environment. She has been a consultant and software developer for organizations such as General Dynamics, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the state of Mississippi. After receiving her doctorate in computer science from the University of Texas at Arlington, she served in many lead positions - including department chair and director of graduate studies - in the areas of information technology at several universities.

Her goal as a computer science faculty member was to use theoretical concepts to solve real world problems through teaching, research, and consulting. Providing that level of expertise with practicality is now the mission of Emerald Software, Inc.