Friends,

I’m writing to share the sad news of the passing of Martha Cooley, Charles A. Dana Professor of History emerita at Guilford College, on Sunday, Jan. 15.

Martha served as vice president and academic dean from 1995-2000, working full-time with the faculty, academic support administrators and their staff. During her tenure as Dean she spearheaded the overhaul of the general education curriculum, and consistently strengthened the role of faculty as a whole in developing the general education curriculum. Under her leadership, she held regular meetings with department chairs and established the creation of six division chairs.

She was a model for others in balancing work and family commitments, and devoted her career and deep compassion to Guilford. Her love of hospitality, which she shared with her husband Jim Cooley, fostered a warm sense of community that many of us vividly recall and aspire to uphold.

In 38 years on the Guilford faculty, from 1965-2003, her teaching was wide-ranging — from Russian and Soviet history to 19th- and 20th-century European history and modern world history. 

She directed Study Abroad from 1987-92 and again from 2001-02. While director, she guided the development of the Guadalajara, Munich, Siena, China, Brunnenburg, Japan and Ghana semester programs.

Martha led the London semester in 1985 and participated in the Brunnenburg semester in 2001 that was led by Jim, a professor of History at UNCG. She led a summer trip to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1976, prior to the startup of semester programs.

She led a summer seminar in the Soviet Union and China with Jim and had research and study leaves in London and Paris. ​​She and Jim also led an experience for students, taking them on a train trip from Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) to Beijing, crossing both Russia and China.

Please join me in holding Martha’s former colleagues, friends and family, including son Jason Cooley and daughter Susannah McKinney in the Light.

We will share information about a memorial for Martha as it becomes available.

Warmly,

Kyle Farmbry
President