On Saturday, October 6, 2012, the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development hosted Parent’s Day, inviting family of current students to meet and mingle with each other and Cooper faculty and staff. Eighty-five parents attended the day-long event held at 41 Cooper Square.

President Jamshed Bharucha welcomed attendees in the Rose Auditorium. He spoke candidly with the crowd, and discussed some of the exciting challenges and experiences that students face during their time spent at Cooper as well as their remarkable accomplishments. "It's always a pleasure to connect with parents and give them a view in to the education in which their children will be immersed," he stated. "It creates good will and mutual understanding, as it is our mission to provide our students with the finest education possible in their discipline. "

In the afternoon, a lunchtime panel comprised of current seniors, parents, and administraitors discussed the the academic, financial, and social elements of a Cooper education. Speaking on the panel were Lisa Ruiz, (PA, AR ’16); John Falls, Assistant Dean of Admissions; Mary Ruokonon, Director of Financial Aid; Rachel Appel (A ’13); Alison Acevedo (IDE ’13); Eduard Levshteyn (CHE ’13). The day concluded with Dean Stephen Baker’s presentation on Cooper athletics, followed by campus tours and a walking tour of the East Village and Cooper’s part in the neighborhood’s history.

“As a former Cooper student myself, with a daughter and a son-in-law who were also Cooper engineering students, I appreciate the feelings of excitement and anxiety about our rigorous but ultimately very rewarding program,” said Acting Dean of Engineering Alan Wolf who was on hand to answer questions from some anxious and excited family members. Sometimes, Dean Wolf admits, he tells parents to “get a hobby.  In other words—relax, the program is rigorous, but their children will come through it fine, and go on to be outstanding engineers (or doctors or lawyers or…,” he trails off.

“The faculty and especially the students continue to impress me with their dedication and acumen,” says parent Lisa Ruiz who was in attendance. “It gives me great satisfaction to support Cooper Union and I look forward to meeting more of my fellow parents in the coming months at the various volunteer events.”