Welcome to the University of Iowa's nationally ranked College of Pharmacy. The vibrant and accomplished community we've built is committed to our mission of advancing healthcare through innovation, impact, and excellence. Our program has a storied history as leaders in educating future pharmacists, and we have an even brighter future.
Carrying the Zada Legacy Forward: Leadership, Service, and Impact
This year marked a new chapter in honoring pioneer Zada Cooper, whose name has anchored an annual symposium featuring national speakers for more than a decade.
In March, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) elevated Cooper's legacy to the national stage when Metta Lou Henderson was named the inaugural recipient of the Zada Cooper Leadership Award and delivered the Domer Distinguished Lecture at the APhA Foundation's Women in Pharmacy Leadership Development Forum.
Closer to home, our Zada LEADS (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Distinction, and Service) event took meaningful new shape this spring with a service-learning fair hosted by SafeNetRx. We are grateful to CEO Jon Rosmann for his partnership and support. The fair provided attendees hands-on opportunities to support vulnerable populations through medication redistribution efforts that have helped more than 172,000 people nationwide.
At its core, the Zada legacy encourages leadership in all forms — from community volunteering and student organization involvement to mentoring others and pursuing career growth. This year, two outstanding student leaders were recognized: Siddhanth Hejmady, a fourth-year graduate student in pharmaceutics, and Josephine Vonderhaar, a third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student.
The event also featured keynote speaker Susan Winckler, ’92 BSPh, JD, CEO, of the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, who spoke on advocacy, service, and the power of community engagement.
Looking ahead, the college announced the establishment of the Zada Cooper Scholarship Fund, which will recognize and support pharmacy students who embody the core LEADS values. The Zada LEADS event also honored current scholarship recipients and recognized donors for their support, bringing both groups together at lunch to foster connection, camaraderie, and mutual support.
Together, these achievements affirm our commitment to honoring Zada Cooper not only in name, but in action—by supporting students, expanding service-learning opportunities, and elevating leadership. Special appreciation is extended to Melissa Murer Corrigan for her continued stewardship of the Zada Cooper legacy.
Jill M. Kolesar, PharmD, MS, FCCP
Dean, Jean M. Schmidt Chair, and Professor