Donald R. Cotten

Donald R. Cotten was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Education and Human Services Hall of Fame in 2005.

Cotten earned his doctorate in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in science education from West Virginia University in 1976. He also received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied biological sciences and science education.

Throughout a career that spanned high school teaching, community college instruction, university faculty roles, and senior-level administrative appointments, Cotten served in leadership positions such as vice president for research, graduate dean, vice provost for research, and associate vice chancellor for research and technology transfer. He worked in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, collaborating with public agencies, private companies, and federal laboratories to advance education and research infrastructure.

Cotten secured significant federal and private-sector funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Defense, and USDA. He also served on the board of Oak Ridge Associated Universities and was widely published in science education, curriculum development, and evaluation.

In recognition of his contributions, Cotten was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame (2017), the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation Hall of Fame (2013), and named Copiah-Lincoln Community College Alumnus of the Year in 2010.

His legacy at WVU includes the Drs. Catherine Perry and Donald R. Cotten Scholarship, now administered by the College of Applied Human Sciences to support students pursuing careers in education and technology-related fields.