Monique Cooper Olowu
Monique Cooper Olowu’s connection to the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) began in 2012, when she first experienced the program as a parent. Over the years, she developed a deep appreciation for NYSP’s mission and the opportunities it provides to young people and families throughout the Greater Cleveland community. Bringing with her professional experience, longstanding community leadership, and a commitment to children and families, Monique joined the NYSP staff in 2022 and, within three months, was appointed Assistant Director.
As Assistant Director, Monique helps lead the year-round planning, development, and operation of NYSP at Case Western Reserve University. Her responsibilities span program administration, staff recruitment and supervision, camper enrollment, scheduling, budgeting, grant writing and reporting, parent and community engagement, and the coordination of the many moving parts required to deliver a successful summer program. She is particularly passionate about strengthening operations, improving systems, and building upon NYSP’s longstanding legacy while identifying new opportunities to enhance the experience for campers, families, and staff.
Central to Monique’s work is her belief that exposure can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. “If you give a child the opportunity to experience something they might not otherwise experience, maybe the wheels start turning in a different direction. Maybe they begin to see that something they didn’t think was possible for them is actually attainable,” she says. She is passionate about creating opportunities that allow young people to discover their potential without placing limitations on what success should look like—whether their path leads to college, the skilled trades, entrepreneurship, or another direction entirely. She believes young people thrive when they are given opportunities, encouraged to envision what is possible, and are surrounded by people who genuinely believe in their ability to achieve it.
Monique holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, where she graduated cum laude, and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Her contributions have been recognized through several honors, including Staff of the Year in 2022, Woman of the Year in 2023, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. Her leadership is grounded in service, continuous improvement, collaboration, and a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for others. For Monique, NYSP is more than a summer program—it is a community where young people can discover possibilities, build confidence, and begin to imagine what their future can become.