2001 O'Neil D'Amour Award

Sister Joanne Cozzi, DC

Sr. Cozzi receives her award from Celestin Algero, SC (regional representative on the NABCCCE Advisory Committee), as Steve Hammond (Superintendent in the Diocese of Nashville) looks on at the NCEA Convention in Milwaukee.

Sister Joanne Cozzi is being honored for her belief in board formation and support for collaboration between principals, pastors, and community members.

Sister Cozzi presently ministers as principal of St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, located in a low-income neighborhood in North Nashville. Since her arrival at St. Vincent, she reactivated the school board; collaborated with the board, pastor, parish, and community in building a two-story school addition; raised $2.2 million toward the $3 million cost of construction; increased enrollment; strengthened curriculum; and established long-range goals for the school.

Her focus on empowering boards was perhaps most evident during her tenure as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, from 1979 to 1998. During her 19 years as superintendent, she created a handbook for administrators, pastors, and school boards; developed a handbook of policies for schools and boards; assured that every school in the diocese had a functioning board; required of each board a written constitution and an update of the constitution every five years; conducted monthly meetings with local board presidents; provided annual inservices for all diocesan school board members; and invited national speakers (including NCEA staff) to address school administrators, pastors, and board members. She was principal of St. Thomas Elementary School in Long Beach, Mississippi, from 1973 to 1979.

Sister Cozzi joined the Daughters of Charity on January 25, 1956. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and psychology from Marillac College in St. Louis, a Master’s degree in Education from Marquette University, engaged in post-graduate work at the University of Loyola in New Orleans and the University of Southern Mississippi, and participated in the equivalent of Bachelor’s degree studies in theology. In addition to her involvement with school boards, she has been active on both hospital and community boards.

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