Who is Kristin Cooper - Age, Career, Early Life, Family and More

Kristin Cooper (née Bernhardt) is an American lawyer, advocate, and former First Lady of North Carolina who served from 2017 to 2025. During her tenure, she championed causes like child poverty, hunger, literacy, abuse prevention, and the arts, making her one of the most active first ladies in the state’s history.

Beyond her public role, Kristin built a career as a guardian ad litem for foster children, representing more than 100 kids in court, and earlier worked as a staff attorney for the North Carolina General Assembly. Married to former Governor Roy Cooper, she is also a mother of three daughters and continues her advocacy in Raleigh after leaving the Governor’s Mansion in 2025.

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Kristin Cooper Wiki/Bio

Full Name	Kristin Bernhardt Cooper
Date of Birth	July 19, 1956
Age	69 years (as of 2025)
Profession	Lawyer, Advocate, Former First Lady
Hometown	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Current Residence	Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Nationality	American
Zodiac Sign	Cancer

Kristin Cooper Early Life

Kristin Bernhardt was born on July 19, 1956, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the eldest of four daughters. Her father, Captain Samuel C. Bernhardt, was a Vietnam veteran and physician, while her mother, Geri Bernhardt, was an artist. Growing up in a family that valued both service and creativity, Kristin developed a strong sense of justice and empathy. She spent summers in North Carolina with extended family, experiences that later deepened her connection to the state.

Kristin Cooper Education

Kristin attended the University of Oklahoma for her undergraduate studies before moving to North Carolina to pursue law. In 1982, she earned her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Her education equipped her with the skills to blend policy knowledge with advocacy, particularly for vulnerable communities.

Kristin Cooper Family Details

Kristin Cooper married Roy Asberry Cooper III in 1992 after meeting him at a General Assembly committee meeting in 1989. Together, they built a family in Rocky Mount before settling in Raleigh.

The couple has three daughters:

Hilary Cooper (born 1995)
Claire Cooper (born 1997)
Natalie Cooper (born 2000)

All three graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kristin also became a stepmother to Roy’s adopted daughter from his first marriage.

Roy Cooper and wife Kristin Cooper (Photo Credit: facebook.com/NCgovernor)

The family shares a passion for theater—Kristin and her daughters have performed in productions like Camelot and The Diary of Anne Frank.

Kristin Cooper Career Highlights

Kristin’s legal career began in 1982 when she worked as a staff attorney for the North Carolina General Assembly, where she served for over two decades. In 2003, she shifted her focus to advocacy, working as a guardian ad litem for foster children in Wake County until 2014.

As First Lady of North Carolina (2017–2025), Kristin expanded her influence, championing literacy programs, child welfare initiatives, hunger prevention, and the arts. She also served on the boards of cultural institutions like the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Career Highlights Table

Milestone	Details
Law Degree	Graduated from Campbell University School of Law (1982)
General Assembly Staff	Staff attorney for legislative support (1982–2003)
Guardian ad Litem	Represented foster children in Wake County (2003–2014)
First Lady Role	Advocated for child welfare, literacy, hunger prevention, and arts (2017–2025)
Arts & Theater	Starred in Camelot and The Diary of Anne Frank

Kristin Cooper Controversies

Kristin Cooper has maintained a scandal-free public life. While some of her initiatives as First Lady touched on sensitive topics like child welfare and poverty, she avoided partisan disputes and remained widely respected across communities.

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