Alison Clark Zajdel '01 Stepping Down as Leader of Cope Environmental Center

February 7, 2017

"After overseeing the construction of a new home for Cope Environmental Center, its executive director hopes to spend more time at her own home," reports Richmond, Indiana's Palladium-Item. "Alison Clark Zajdel announced Sunday she is stepping down as Cope's director in April. She said she's been thinking about making a change for awhile but wanted to get Cope's new building completed before leaving."

Millicent Martin Emery writes, "Zajdel said after 15-plus years at Cope, she's now ready for extra time with her two children -- Maggie is 9 and Joel is 5 -- and a little break. After her schedule becomes less hectic, she said she plans to volunteer at Cope."

The paper notes, "A 1997 graduate of Richmond High School, Zajdel joined Cope in 2001 after graduating from DePauw University with a degree in studio arts."  She's served as executive director of the non-profit organization in Centerville since 2012.

"I have loved my time at Cope," Zajdel says. "This property is very special to me and so are the volunteers, board, Cope family and certainly the staff.  We have accomplished quite a bit together as a team. ... We are very close, so it makes my departure bittersweet for me."

"A 1997 graduate of Richmond High School, Zajdel joined Cope in 2001 after graduating from DePauw University with a degree in studio art."

Access the complete article at the newspaper's website.

Back