Lives of Consequence
Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09, L.H.D. ’16
Co-Founder, Madison Financial Planning Group
The first William Smith alumna to chair the Hobart and William Smith Board of Trustees (2012-2016), Maureen Collins Zupan has served her alma mater with distinction. With more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, rising to vice president at Mutual of New York, she co-founded the Madison Financial Planning Group before retiring in 2016.
Since her days as a student, Zupan has been dedicated to the HWS community serving on the Board of Trustees for 22 years, the last four as chair. She was one of the tri-chairs of Campaign for the Colleges, the largest and most successful campaign in HWS history, raising more than $200 million to support the endowment and capital projects. Her leadership on the William Smith Centennial Steering and Fund Committees helped ensure the success of the celebration and associated fundraising campaign.
The oldest of 20 cousins, Zupan was the first person in her extended family to attend college. She majored in mathematics, graduated magna cum laude and was named to Phi Beta Kappa. Three of her sisters followed her to William Smith: Jean Collins Van Etten ’74, Joan Collins ’84 and Frances Collins Rogers ’90. Zupan is married to William Zupan ’72 and they have two children including Cathleen who graduated from William Smith in 2009. In addition, two of Zupan’s brothers-in-law are Hobart graduates – John Van Etten ’73 and John Rogers ’92 – as is her niece, Caroline Dosky ’12.
Zupan’s engagement with her local community is equally notable, with terms as president of the Cazenovia Children’s House, secretary of the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, member of the Steering Committee for the Syracuse Children’s Hospital and Chair of Community Fundraising for the Crouse Hospital Foundation’s annual gala. She is an emeritus trustee of the Upstate University Foundation and has been a member of the Foundation Board for SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
In 1992, Zupan founded the Collins Family Scholarship with her sisters and their father, John F. Collins P’72, P’74, P’84, P’90, GP’09, GP’12, HON ’12, L.H.D. ’16. That scholarship has helped deserving students attain a Hobart and William Smith education.
In addition to working to ensure that students have access to the same quality education she experienced, Zupan has hosted and spoken at numerous HWS events and has sponsored several student externships. She has been a significant member of the William Smith Alumnae Association, helping to coordinate seven class reunions and taking an active role in inspiring other alumni and alumnae to make the Colleges a philanthropic priority.
In 2008, she was presented with the President’s Medal in recognition of her deep and multifaceted contributions to her alma mater. For her remarkable career, her service to her family and community, and her indelible contributions to the vitality and longevity of the Colleges, Hobart and William Smith recognized Zupan with an honorary doctorate in 2016.