The Daily Bulletin Archive

Mary-Beth Cooper, president of Springfield College in Massachusetts, will present "The Presidential Journey: The Road Less Traveled," a reflection on her past experience in student affairs and her experiences as the first female president of Springfield College, on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall.

Cooper became the 13th president of Springfield College in August 2013, bringing experience from a long and distinguished career in higher education administration and community leadership. Choosing to work in education administration because of its vibrant atmosphere, she cites the guiding forces in her career as her passion for learning, her yearning for intellectual stimulation, and her vision for human potential. She firmly believes that education can be the answer to creating a prosperous, successful community of thinkers and doers. In addition to her administrative leadership, she takes seriously her role as a mentor and advocate for students, women, and athletes.

Prior to her presidency, Cooper served as senior vice president for student affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She joined RIT in 2001 after serving as dean of students at the University of Rochester since 1997, and before that as vice president for student affairs at St. John Fisher College. A community leader, Cooper was chair of the YMCA of Greater Rochester board of directors. In 2005, she was named one of Rochester’s most influential women by the Rochester Business Journal.

Cooper earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in education from the University of Georgia, a Ph.D. in education administration from Michigan State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester, and a doctor of management from Case Western Reserve University. She also completed two leadership certificates at Harvard and recently presented a paper at the University of Oxford.

For more information or questions, please contact Amy Wilson, assistant professor of higher education administration, ext. 4083.