Cooper University Hospital President and CEO, John P. Sheridan, Jr., announces that Susan Bass Levin has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cooper Foundation. Bass Levin currently serves as Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In this position, she is the senior New Jersey officer on a bi-state executive management team. This team oversees 7,000 public employees, as well as a $30 billion, 10-year capital budget and a $5.5 billion annual budget.
She has served in the Cabinet of three Governors from January 2002 through June 2005 and again from January 2006 through June 2007. As the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Chair of both the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, Bass Levin has worked closely with New Jersey cities, community and economic development agencies and non-profit organizations. She provided oversight and guidance on a wide variety of management, infrastructure, financial, development, planning and housing issues.
Bass Levin has strong ties and deep knowledge of Camden County and South Jersey as long-time Mayor of Cherry Hill from 1988 through 2002. She has been active with the American Heart Association, the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, the South Jersey and Cherry Hill Chambers of Commerce and is an advocate for women’s health issues.
“Susan has an impressive career serving the public and I am looking forward to working with her on a deeper engagement into our philanthropic efforts at Cooper,” said Edward D. Viner, M.D., Chairman of the Cooper Foundation. “We are honored to welcome her superior expertise in business strategy, tactical financial development, project management and infrastructure reform. Her knowledge, as well as her extensive contacts in this region and statewide, will enhance our goals over the next five to ten-years.”
Bass Levin, who will begin her position at Cooper in late January 2010, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. She will work in collaboration with the Chairman of the Foundation and the Foundation Board of Trustees.
As Cooper continues its commitment to the Camden City community, Bass Levin will also be responsible for the community redevelopment efforts of the Cooper Health System. This will include programs to increase housing opportunities, foster our community relationships and develop programs that will improve the Cooper Plaza/Lanning Square neighborhoods, and Camden’s Central Business District. Her experience working with community development agencies and non-profits while at the Department of Community Affairs will be invaluable to our efforts in this area.
Over the last several years, Cooper University Hospital has enhanced its pledge to the City of Camden. As a pillar in the city for more than 120 years, Cooper’s dedication to making the people of Camden healthier is stronger than ever. The “health” of Camden City community will depend on education, housing, and employment—the foundation for progress.
Bass Levin has served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Camden and also has received the Camden Churches Organized for People Annual Leadership Award. An advocate for education, she was a volunteer at Forest Hill Elementary School in Camden.
“We understand that change only comes when embraced by the people of this great City of Camden,” said Mr. Sheridan. “We have been working with our neighbors to make sure that their health and their lives are improving. By expanding our efforts within our Foundation with Susan’s rich experiences and proven leadership, we will make sure that collaborative projects are followed to completion and progress continues within the City.”
Together, this work and the work on the current development of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, the first four-year allopathic medical school in South Jersey, will ensure the renaissance to the city of Camden.