Harley Cohen was born in Winnipeg on May 12, 1933. He received a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Mathematics & Physics from the
University of Manitoba in 1956. He obtained an MSC in Applied Mathematics from Brown University in 1958. Upon completion of his Masters, Cohen worked as Research Engineer with the Boeing Aircraft Company. Between 1960-1963 he worked as a Senior Development Engineer for Honeywell eventually becoming a Senior Scientist. While at Honeywell he obtained a patent for a gyroscope that was used in the first lunar landing in 1969. He was working toward his PHD at this time.

Cohen completed his PHD in Mechanics & Materials at the University of Minnesota in 1964. He worked briefly at the University of Minnesota before returning to Winnipeg in 1966 to take an Associate Professorship in Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He enhanced the mathematics curriculum within the Faculty and was promted to full
professor in 1968. He pursued his engineering credentials becoming a P. Eng in the province of Manitoba. Dr. Cohen was named a Distinguished Professor in Applied Mathematics i in 1983. He was the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering from 1984-1989. He was appointed, to a five year term as Dean of Science in the fall of 1989. He retired from teaching in 1998 & is currently a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.