Zada Cooper Leadership Symposium
Save the Date!
May 4, 2024
UI College of Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy Building
Zada Cooper Leadership Legacy
The Zada Cooper Legacy of Leadership strives to:
- Inspire others to engage and model inclusive leadership;
- Encourage all healthcare providers to become involved in their profession and community;
- Increase awareness of current and emerging leadership challenges;
- Facilitate and promote connections – students, residents, and practitioners to engage in informal conversation with leaders;
- Inspire participants to reach out to become compassionate and inclusive leaders;
- Introduce varying leadership pathways and thoughts on leadership;
- Collaborate and build diverse networks.
About Zada Mary Cooper
Leadership is very much a part of Iowa's healthcare history. Dating back to the early days of pharmacy education, the University of Iowa cultivated pioneers. One of those remarkable leaders was Zada Mary Cooper (1875–1961), who graduated from the UI College of Pharmacy in 1897, and continued as a faculty member until retiring in 1942.
A master teacher, mentor, and innovator, Cooper was one of the founders of the Women’s Section of the American Pharmacists Association, founder of Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and the Rho Chi Society, and secretary of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy from 1922 to 1942. She advocated for women in pharmacy, for patients, and to strengthen standards in pharmacy education.