Michelle Cooper `90 is commencement speaker; Elinor “Ellie” Jane Wilson `52 to receive honorary degree.
Cazenovia College will host its 191st Commencement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14.
Alumna Michelle Cooper ’90 — a leader in real-estate programming and construction project management — will serve as the commencement speaker. Cooper has over 20 years of experience in managing real estate initiatives within the corporate, retail, institutional and healthcare sectors.
After graduating from Cazenovia, Cooper earned a Bachelor of Science in facilities management from Cornell University and a Master of Science in construction administration from Columbia University in the City of New York. Her professional accomplishments and civic activities include associate director, MACRO Consultants, New York City; program manager, Columbia University Medical Center; vice president and retail project director, Bank of America; assistant vice president, corporate real estate, Lehman Brothers; as well as a past board member of Rebuilding Together NYC and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) NY.
This year’s recipient of a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, is Elinor “Ellie” Jane Wilson `52. Wilson is an alumna, former employee, friend and volunteer for Cazenovia College, who served 41 years as a college bookstore leader on a local, state and national level.
She attended Cazenovia Junior College from 1950 to 1952. Upon graduation with an associate degree in general education, Wilson became manager of the Cazenovia College bookstore from 1954 through 1967. She then served as the manager of the Mohawk Valley Community College bookstore for seven years, and from there went on to manage the bookstore at Colgate University for 21 years.
Wilson received the Young Woman of the Year Award from Cazenovia College in 1966; was president of the Cazenovia College Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1966-71 and received the Distinguished Alumni award in 1979. She later became a board of trustees member from 1989-92. Her passion for Cazenovia College is recognized in the Ellie Wilson Award, which is awarded during Reunion Weekend to an alumna/us of Cazenovia Seminary, Cazenovia Junior College or Cazenovia College specifically with gratitude for devotion, loyalty and service to the College.
Additional details for 2016 Commencement photography, videography, live webcast and lodging are available at cazenovia.edu/commencement.
