Moving Humanity Forward through Education
Jean Cochran still remembers the moment she stood before the ancient splendor of Machu Picchu. She was in her 20's, backpacking across Central and South America, having experiences she would draw on the rest of her life. "Total immersion into another culture taught me tolerance and self-reliance. I developed a healthy openness and respect for different ways of life," she says.
Jean believes that the lessons she learned through travel gave her life direction. She became an accomplished entrepreneur, opening two businesses with her husband, Vaughn Cochran. The couple co-own the Blackfly restaurant in St. Augustine and the Blackfly Lodge, a boutique fishing hotel in Abaco, Bahamas.
Jean's belief in education and Flagler College inspired her to designate one third of her trust to support two endowed funds at Flagler College. Inspiration for the first fund came from an unlikely source. One day, while sorting through her mail, memories of her transformative travel adventures came flooding back in. "I saw a study abroad brochure from Flagler and thought - that's exactly what I want to support! Learning is one thing; remembering and integrating that knowledge is another," she says."
Flagler College's Study Abroad Program is overseen by the Center for Global Education. Another program, FlagSHIP, (Flagler Sophomore High Impact Practice) allows sophomores to explore questions of global interest in local, national, or international locations. Inspired by her interest in education and exposure to other cultures, Jean set aside a portion of her trust to create the Jean M. Cochran Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship. The scholarship covers travel expenses for students with a financial need who want to expand their cultural and educational horizons.
The other portion of Jean's trust will endow the Jean M. Cochran Endowed Fund for Scholarly and Creative Excellence. This fund will support faculty through grants for research, travel, professional development, curriculum development, and other faculty initiatives identified by the College deans.
Jean was able to structure the criteria for these endowments through her trust which will be realized in the future. Notifying Flagler of her philanthropic intentions now allows the College to ensure that her gift is used according to her wishes, and to celebrate her as a member of the prestigious Henry M. Flagler Society. The Flagler Society recognizes individuals who make a planned gift during their lifetime.
Jean Cochran first became familiar with Flagler College through her husband's involvement with the College's Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Board from 2017 to 2021. Vaughn Cochran now serves on the Visual and Performing Arts Board. By attending events and meeting people associated with Flagler, Jean developed an appreciation for the College's mission. "I was impressed with Flagler's intentional and exceptional support of students and professors. That's one of the reasons I support the College. If I were a professor who wanted to do research and I wasn't supported by my college, I would look elsewhere for a position. I hope my Scholarly and Creative Excellence Fund helps the College attract and keep the best professors, and helps professors keep their enthusiasm for teaching."
Jean has also contributed to the Power of the Purse® fundraiser sponsored by the Women of Vision Advisory Board, which was co-founded by Robin Cooper and Dr. Beverly Carmichael. The Board's annual fundraiser supports scholarships and educational opportunities for women studying at Flagler.
While developing her estate plan, Jean researched nonprofit organizations and felt Flagler was an institution she could trust. "I believe in the integrity and longevity of the College and its administration," Jean says. Her mindful, measured approach to estate planning mirrors Flagler's philosophy of building meaningful donor relationships. Describing her interactions with the College's Director of Development and Gift Planning, Nicole Pece, Jean says, "Nicole put so much time, energy, and real care into the process. She was a great help in making this happen." Jean also worked closely with an estate planning attorney.
Jean's conviction that education can transform individuals and society as a whole has never wavered. "Education is the answer to everything. It solves problems. It moves humanity forward." Whether that learning occurs in the shadow of Machu Picchu or among the library research stacks, Jean Cochran believes it will yield a lifetime of positive results.
To learn more about supporting Flagler through an estate plan, contact the Director of Development and Gift Planning, Nicole Pece, at 904-819-6406 or [email protected].