Mary-Beth Cooper, associate vice president and River Campus dean of students, has been named University of Rochester Woman of the Year by the University's Women's Caucus. This award is presented annually to a member of the faculty or staff who demonstrates outstanding service to the University and the community.
Cooper will be honored at a dinner and ceremony featuring keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, who will discuss the role of women as leaders on college campuses. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17, at The Meliora in the Fredrick Douglass Building on the River Campus. Tickets will be sold in advance for $20 at the Information Desk in Wilson Commons.
Cooper, who has a doctorate in higher education administration from Michigan State University, joined the University staff in 1997 after serving as vice president of student affairs at St. John Fisher College. After two years as the senior associate dean of students for the University, Cooper was promoted to her current post. Responsible for coordinating program, policy, and budget planning processes in a number of units of the Division of Student Affairs, Cooper also has direct supervisory responsibility for staff and programs in the offices of the River Campus Dean of Students, the Interfaith Chapel, Wilson Commons, and Student Activities. She also manages all issues relating to program design and performance for River Campus Dining Services and is presently enrolled in the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration's M.B.A. Executive Development Program.
Alongside her administrative duties, Cooper has been supportive of the Women's Caucus and has worked with the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership on a wealth of issues. Commenting on Cooper's dedication to women's studies, Tiffany Miller, president of the Women's Caucus, considers Cooper to be "an outstanding role model for female students."
Note to editors : Mary-Beth Cooper is a resident of Pittsford.