Cope's fortunes continued to look up throughout the early 1890s, as he was promoted to Leidy's position as Professor of Zoology and was elected President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science the same year that Marsh stepped down as head of the Academy of Sciences.
A situación de Cope continuou mellorando durante os primeiros anos da década de 1890, recibindo un ascenso para ocupar o lugar de Leidy como profesor de zooloxía e resultando elixido presidente da American Association for the Advancement of Science o mesmo ano que Marsh deixara o seu cargo á fronte da Academia das Ciencias.