Betty Cockrum Leadership Award
Betty Cockrum
Leadership Award
Betty Lou Fuller Cockrum was a fierce champion of women, leaving behind a long legacy of leadership, mentorship, and friendship. From the very start, Betty has supported Hoosier Women Forward serving as a member of our advisory board, development committee, and personally mentoring many board members and class members along the way. We miss our friend and we recommit ourselves to the work at hand: to lift up women from all over Indiana, of many backgrounds and perspectives, and empower them to step into leadership positions for which they are destined.
Leaving a Legacy
of leadership, mentorship, and friendship.
Betty most recently served as president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky for 15 years. Previously, she served as the state budget director for the State of Indiana and head of the Indiana Department of Administration for former Governor Frank O’Bannon, and earlier as Bloomington’s city controller after working for the Bloomington Redevelopment Department. She received many awards and accolades throughout her career. Among those, she twice received a Sagamore of the Wabash – the State of Indiana’s highest award – the first from Governor Frank O’Bannon and the second from Governor Joe Kernan. In honor of her 50th birthday, March 25th, 2003 was declared Betty Cockrum Day by the Mayor of Indianapolis.
Most of all, Betty deeply loved her family, her sons Joel (Liz) and Gavin (Maggie), and her four grandchildren – Darby, Cade, Cooper, and Felix.
Betty Cockrum Leadership Award Recipients
2023 – Christina Hale
2022 – Liane Hulka
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