Marie Milfleur

To say that Marie Milfleur knows about struggle and determination would be an understatement. For her, it was a long journey to Northeastern and she's grateful to finally be traveling on that path. The opportunity to attend the university—once only a dream—was realized through a generous bequest established by the late Dorothy Cooley, BA'60.

When Milfleur became a single parent, she and her four young children moved to Massachusetts, where she secured a job at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Once her children were older, she was able to consider fulfilling her desire to study psychology at Northeastern. However, in order to attain her goal, Milfleur needed financial assistance and the flexibility to attend classes while working and raising a family. It was a bequest from Dorothy Cooley that would make her dream a reality.

Cooley achieved remarkable professional success in her lifetime and was committed to supporting women pursuing both their educational and career goals. Always an accomplished student, she continued her higher education by attending Northeastern at night and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in business administration. In appreciation for her Northeastern experience, Cooley named the university as a beneficiary of her estate—and to this day, makes an impact in the lives of others through the Dorothy G. Cooley Scholarship.

As the grateful recipient of the Cooley Scholarship, Marie Milfleur shares, "Once I receive my degree, I would like to dedicate my life to helping others. If it wasn't for Dorothy and the scholarship, I wouldn't be here."