The nominee for Vice-President, Cheryl "Sherrie" Cooper Jackson, MUW Class of 1982 was a campus leader while at MUW, has led an active professional life and has been active as an alumna. After receiving her B.A. in journalism, Cum Laude from MUW, she attended USM-Gulf Coast.
Sherrie served on the Spectator going from freshman staff writer to editor her senior year. She was on the Presidents' Council and the Inter-Residence Hall Council (helped in the formalization of this organization including the writing of its bylaws and served in several roles, becoming President her Junior year). She was President of Peyton Residence Hall; a member of Lantern, Torch and Mortar Board; a member of Hottentots, Women in Communications, Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi, Press Club, Hostess Squad and the Modeling Squad. She was a contestant in the Miss W Pageant, and other years served as Assistant Director and Director. As a Theater Guild member she worked with a number of productions both on-stage and back-stage. She was a "W Day" Advisor; played intramural sports; was a Reveler Social Club member and Rush Chairman; participated in the Baptist Student Union and BSU Drama Team; and belonged to other departmental clubs and honoraries.
About her involvement as an alumna, Sherrie said "I became involved with the MUW Alumnae Association while in graduate school in Hattiesburg and served as Young Alum Chair and later PR Chairman for the Association. After moving to the Coast, I actively participated with both the Harrison County and Jackson County Chapters as well as the combined Gulf Coast Chapter. On several occasions I represented MUW at college and career fairs and also at Scholars Day programs. Each year for many years I baked a cake and delivered it to the home of my local State Representative. For a time I was out of touch with the association, though I did continue to give to the university and returned to Homecoming for my 1st, 5th, 10th and 20th class reunions.I was out of touch for a time especially following Hurricane Katrina. It was while planning to attend my 25th Class Reunion that I resumed a more active role in the Alumnae Association and served as a member of the PR Committee and then as PR Chairman, contributing to such communications tools as the web site, e- newsletter and Homecoming print materials and advertising. I have actively participated in the public dialog and the legislative process regarding name, mission and alumnae/alumni affiliation. I have also participated in Friends of the W and maintain an active personal and professional network of MUW alums and supporters."
Sherrie has been married to Michael Cooper, who is a native of Webster County, Mississippi, since 1985. She has a college-aged son and a middle-school daughter. Her professional life is as busy as her student life was: "I am joint owner and a key participant in three family-owned and operated businesses, working with my husband in two seafood industry companies, P&M Seafood and Back Bay Fuel And Ice, LLC. We also own Cooper Thoroughbred Racing and are involved in racing and breeding thoroughbred horses. In addition, I maintain my involvement in my chosen profession by working with selected clients through my freelance marketing consulting business, CC Cooper Communications."
Sherrie also told us "My involvement with my family extends into the community, as I have three terms as a PTO President, a term as a PTO newsletter chairman and a term as a Secretary. I have had the honor of being named Parent of the Year at both Oak Park Elementary and at Taconi Elementary and am currently Vice President of the Ocean Springs Education Foundation. Our family pets are a toy poodle named Maxwell C. Cooper, a cat named Buddy Girl and a cat named Schroedinger, although we also feel as if our horses are family pets as well. My mother still resides in High Springs, Florida, where I lived prior to becoming a "W girl." I am the oldest of five children."
When asked about her goals as a Board Member, Sherrie said "I am looking forward to using my communications and organizational skills on behalf of MUW alumnae and alumni to help restore the original and historic association to full affiliation with the university while also enhancing the roles it plays in supporting the university and in maintaining ties with alums. I welcome the opportunity to build on the strong bonds of W students and alums in order to facilitate networking and full participation by all alumnae and alumni.
I love MUW. I believe in the importance of this university and in the continued need for its focus to be on educating women and preparing them for leadership. This "lovemark" nomination I wrote a few years ago speaks directly to this question: "I came to Mississippi University for Women, The W, in the fall of 1978. 'Girl Power'was just a twinkle in Gloria Steinem's eye. There were no female U.S. Supreme Court Justices. No woman had ever had a real chance to be vice president much less president. It was a very different time. But all my life my father had taught me I could compete with the boys in everything. My heart was broken when he was killed in an industrial accident midway through my junior year in high school. I was the oldest of five children with a widowed mother and I HAD to make the right choice in picking a college. I did. The W became my staunchest supporter and reinforced the things Dad had taught me. Women were student body presidents and newspaper editors and the faculty was there to educate and empower women. Its been more than 25 years since graduation and still my best friends and much of my professional network are my W classmates. Returning to campus is the closest thing to time travel that I have personally experienced. A campus of timeless beauty with a mostly female student body and a place where girls become women and women become whatever they want to be." It has been said that a rising tide lifts all boats. That is the way I feel about a university where each student is encouraged and supported and empowered to be their very best - whether they are male or female. The very attributes which make a women's university the best environment for many girls and women to flourish offers the same benefits to many boys and men. I want to help ensure that the alumnae and alumni of the nation's first public institution for higher education for women continue to work together for an even brighter future for them, their children and this university."
Sherrie served on the Spectator going from freshman staff writer to editor her senior year. She was on the Presidents' Council and the Inter-Residence Hall Council (helped in the formalization of this organization including the writing of its bylaws and served in several roles, becoming President her Junior year). She was President of Peyton Residence Hall; a member of Lantern, Torch and Mortar Board; a member of Hottentots, Women in Communications, Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi, Press Club, Hostess Squad and the Modeling Squad. She was a contestant in the Miss W Pageant, and other years served as Assistant Director and Director. As a Theater Guild member she worked with a number of productions both on-stage and back-stage. She was a "W Day" Advisor; played intramural sports; was a Reveler Social Club member and Rush Chairman; participated in the Baptist Student Union and BSU Drama Team; and belonged to other departmental clubs and honoraries.
About her involvement as an alumna, Sherrie said "I became involved with the MUW Alumnae Association while in graduate school in Hattiesburg and served as Young Alum Chair and later PR Chairman for the Association. After moving to the Coast, I actively participated with both the Harrison County and Jackson County Chapters as well as the combined Gulf Coast Chapter. On several occasions I represented MUW at college and career fairs and also at Scholars Day programs. Each year for many years I baked a cake and delivered it to the home of my local State Representative. For a time I was out of touch with the association, though I did continue to give to the university and returned to Homecoming for my 1st, 5th, 10th and 20th class reunions.I was out of touch for a time especially following Hurricane Katrina. It was while planning to attend my 25th Class Reunion that I resumed a more active role in the Alumnae Association and served as a member of the PR Committee and then as PR Chairman, contributing to such communications tools as the web site, e- newsletter and Homecoming print materials and advertising. I have actively participated in the public dialog and the legislative process regarding name, mission and alumnae/alumni affiliation. I have also participated in Friends of the W and maintain an active personal and professional network of MUW alums and supporters."
Sherrie has been married to Michael Cooper, who is a native of Webster County, Mississippi, since 1985. She has a college-aged son and a middle-school daughter. Her professional life is as busy as her student life was: "I am joint owner and a key participant in three family-owned and operated businesses, working with my husband in two seafood industry companies, P&M Seafood and Back Bay Fuel And Ice, LLC. We also own Cooper Thoroughbred Racing and are involved in racing and breeding thoroughbred horses. In addition, I maintain my involvement in my chosen profession by working with selected clients through my freelance marketing consulting business, CC Cooper Communications."
Sherrie also told us "My involvement with my family extends into the community, as I have three terms as a PTO President, a term as a PTO newsletter chairman and a term as a Secretary. I have had the honor of being named Parent of the Year at both Oak Park Elementary and at Taconi Elementary and am currently Vice President of the Ocean Springs Education Foundation. Our family pets are a toy poodle named Maxwell C. Cooper, a cat named Buddy Girl and a cat named Schroedinger, although we also feel as if our horses are family pets as well. My mother still resides in High Springs, Florida, where I lived prior to becoming a "W girl." I am the oldest of five children."
When asked about her goals as a Board Member, Sherrie said "I am looking forward to using my communications and organizational skills on behalf of MUW alumnae and alumni to help restore the original and historic association to full affiliation with the university while also enhancing the roles it plays in supporting the university and in maintaining ties with alums. I welcome the opportunity to build on the strong bonds of W students and alums in order to facilitate networking and full participation by all alumnae and alumni.
I love MUW. I believe in the importance of this university and in the continued need for its focus to be on educating women and preparing them for leadership. This "lovemark" nomination I wrote a few years ago speaks directly to this question: "I came to Mississippi University for Women, The W, in the fall of 1978. 'Girl Power'was just a twinkle in Gloria Steinem's eye. There were no female U.S. Supreme Court Justices. No woman had ever had a real chance to be vice president much less president. It was a very different time. But all my life my father had taught me I could compete with the boys in everything. My heart was broken when he was killed in an industrial accident midway through my junior year in high school. I was the oldest of five children with a widowed mother and I HAD to make the right choice in picking a college. I did. The W became my staunchest supporter and reinforced the things Dad had taught me. Women were student body presidents and newspaper editors and the faculty was there to educate and empower women. Its been more than 25 years since graduation and still my best friends and much of my professional network are my W classmates. Returning to campus is the closest thing to time travel that I have personally experienced. A campus of timeless beauty with a mostly female student body and a place where girls become women and women become whatever they want to be." It has been said that a rising tide lifts all boats. That is the way I feel about a university where each student is encouraged and supported and empowered to be their very best - whether they are male or female. The very attributes which make a women's university the best environment for many girls and women to flourish offers the same benefits to many boys and men. I want to help ensure that the alumnae and alumni of the nation's first public institution for higher education for women continue to work together for an even brighter future for them, their children and this university."
