MEET MARY

Cooley is a Past-President of the Human Resource Management Association (HRMA) of New Mexico and has served as Diversity Director for the National SHRM Board for Region VI of the United States. The national Society of Human Resources (SHRM) honored Cooley with the coveted HR Educator of the Year national award for her significant contributions at a regional and national level in advancing education and research in the field of human resources. Cooley servedas co-professional development chair for the NM SHRM State Council in 2017 and 2019.

Cooley has been named one of New Mexico’s “40 under 40” making a positive difference in this state, by the New Mexico Business Weekly, and has twice been honored, as “A Woman on the Move” by the YWCA of New Mexico. Cooley was honored with the Professional Excellence Award, reserved for the single outstanding human resources professional in each state; and also named New Mexico’s Most Passionate HR Professional, by SHRM.

Cooley and the Hyatt were honored with the Visions Award from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women for creating and promoting “family friendly” employment programs that assist all levels of employees. She has served on the Boards of Director’s for Adelante, The American Red Cross and Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, is a founding member of the United Way’s Women in Philanthropy and recently served on the United Way of NM’s Board of Directors. Cooley is a certified Trainer with Development Dimensions International (DDI) and trains audiences across the country on numerous topics including conflict resolution, creating, and sustaining a harassment-free workplace, leadership development and effective communication. Recent clients include APS School District, ACLU, Crossroads for Women, Nusenda Credit Union, The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, NM Finance Authority, Santa Fe Community College, NM State University, La Montanita CO-OP, and Vitality Works, Inc.