Samantha Cooper

Meet the Instructor....

What’s your pro-tip for success at KU? 

Get organized, whether by setting up a physical planner, Google Calendar, or another tool that will house your “to do” list. Put the due dates for every single assignment into your calendar when you receive your syllabi on the first day of class so that you are set up to succeed. Also, go see your professors during office hours.  

What is one podcast you never miss an episode of? 

I love true crime podcasts like My Favorite Murder, Criminal, Redhanded, Wicked Words, This is Actually Happening, and Crime Junkie, but I also religiously tune into podcasts on academic life like Writing It! Since 2022, I have also hosted my own podcast called The Sounding Jewish Podcast, in which I interview global scholars of Jewish music and sound about their research trajectories. 

What was the specific moment or book that made you realize, "I want to study this forever"? 

Ruth HaCohen’s The Music Libel Against the Jews was instrumental in my decision to pursue a career dedicated to exploring the intersection between music, sound, and Jewish experience. 

Are you open to talking about things besides classwork, like career advice, life in Lawrence, or campus hobbies? 

I am always happy to speak to my students about things beyond classwork, including career advice, life in Lawrence, or campus hobbies. In my free time, I enjoy Peloton biking, swimming, long walks, good crime-related television dramas, and finding new additions for my notebook, stationery, and plant collections. I am also the proud mom of a one-year-old.