2008 Woodie Awards
Rose honored by faculty
Karen Mann
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: News
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Rose was praised for her commitment to the faculty and students.
"She invests not only in bricks and mortar, but in the students," J. Gregory Payne, former Chair of the Faculty Assembly, said in a later interview. Payne represented the Faculty Assembly in giving Rose the award.
Rose sponsors a $5,000 scholarship to the junior with the highest grade point average, and two graduate scholarships for students who are interested in "the importance of ethics in effective and responsible communication." Because of these awards and many other contributions she has made to the college, Rose received Emerson's Philanthropy Award in 1997.
"There will always be a legacy of compassion with Helen," said Payne.
As an alumna, she returned to Emerson when she heard it was in serious financial trouble.
In 1952, the college was on the verge of bankruptcy and was almost forced to shut down. Rose said she was not going to sit back and watch that happen.
At 25, she became the youngest member on the Board of Trustees.
Another board member told Rose that if she could get alumni to come back and support Emerson's efforts to stay open that he would convince the bank he worked for to loan the college the money it needed. Rose spent the next year and a half calling alumni, and was successful in convincing them to help keep Emerson alive.
One of the reasons she was concerned with helping the school was the education she received here, which she said "taught her self improvement."
While on the Board of Trustees, Rose founded the Robbins Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Friends of the Emerson Majestic Theatre committee.
Outside of Emerson, Rose was on the National Board of the Woman's Medical College, founded the Massachusetts Committee of the Woman's Medical College, founded the Speech and Hearing Foundation in Massachusetts and established adult education for the deaf in Massachusetts.
Rose said at the meeting that the faculty at Emerson made her "role up her sleeves" and become involved. She also expressed her gratefulness to the faculty for honoring her.
Payne later said that no one has been as supportive to the faculty as Rose, and the award was truly heartfelt. She received a standing ovation.
"Her interests span the entire college," said Payne. "She believes in what Emerson can contribute to the world today."