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.

Cooper was regarded as an exceptional educator, guide, and innovator who inspired her students. She 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.

The Zada Cooper Legacy of Leadership strives to:

• Inspire others to engage and model 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 leaders; 
• Introduce varying leadership pathways and thoughts on leadership;
• Collaborate and build impactful networks.

The College of Pharmacy is grateful to Floyd and Judith Domer, who established the Domer Distinguished Visiting Lectureship in 2019 to support the College's mission by inviting leading experts to speak on specialties, including pharmacy policy, pharmaceutical discovery, leadership development, and entrepreneurship.