Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper Recognized with Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Founders Day Award

Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper was recognized with the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Founders Day Award, an award given annually to a woman in the community who not only represents a champion for women’s empowerment, but also is an influencer and mentor for equality. Cooper received the honor at Zonta International’s 100th birthday celebration on Monday, Nov. 11 at Ludlow Country Club.

“I want to say thank you so much to Zonta International, it's truly an honor to be recognized with this very special award during this centennial celebration,” said Cooper during her acceptance speech at the award ceremony. “This award means so much to me personally because the work that Zonta International is doing around the world, and the difference its making in our communities, ties right into the Humanics philosophy and the mission of Springfield College, which is to educate students in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership and service to others.”

Cooper became the 13th president of Springfield College in August 2013, bringing to the College her experiences from a long and distinguished career in higher education administration and community service and leadership. With her leadership, Springfield College has experienced a rededication to the community service and civic engagement for which it is so well known, and has committed itself to building an inclusive campus that encourages engaged and diverse populations.

Locally, the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is working with survivors of domestic abuse and homeless women veterans, partnering in service with like-minded organizations like the YWCA of Western MA to further strengthen their missions.

“It's that service to others that Zonta is showcasing every day, every year, that really makes receiving this award so special,” added Cooper.

The guiding forces in Cooper’s career have been her vision for human potential and education as the answer to creating flourishing communities, as well as her own yearning for intellectual stimulation. Cooper has conducted myriad professional presentations in a wide variety of venues, and she is frequently sought to serve as a consultant in her field. She has given numerous presentations on campus security and personal safety, management trends in higher education, time management skills, and women’s issues.

In addition, Cooper is very well respected among her peers in higher education.

“Mary-Beth has been a powerful presence in our community since her arrival as president of Springfield College,” said Bay Path University President Carol Leary. “She is deeply committed to the success of Springfield College and unselfishly contributes her creativity, energy, and ideas to several major non-profits as well. We are also fortunate to have her leadership and her support for the advancement of women and the values of Zonta.”

Zonta International is a worldwide organization that has empowered women and girls through service and advocacy for 100 years. It was founded November 8, 1919 in Buffalo, New York, by a group of forward-thinking women who envisioned a women’s service organization that would advocate for laws and policies that ensure gender equality and help every woman and girl realize her full potential. Through continuous engagement over almost 10 decades, Zonta International has become a respected and reliable agent of civil society. As a non-governmental organization with general consultative status with the Economic and Social.

The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley, a member of Zonta International, was chartered in 1991. Since that time, the club has contributed to improving women’s lives and empowering them through service and advocacy. They’ve also worked on projects to raise awareness on issues of domestic violence, homeless women veterans, trafficking of women and children, ending early marriage, and suicide prevention in Western Massachusetts.   Visit zontaqv.org or email: info@zontaqv.org to learn more.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.