A Leader in the Field of Public Education

We at the University of Mary strive for our mission, which guides our actions and directs the course of our institution. For Aimee Copas (‘99), a personal mission statement does the same: “I have a mission to help as many people as possible achieve abundance and prosperity in life,” she says. The career paths she’s used to accomplishing this mission have varied, but her focus has remained the same. When Copas attended the University of Mary, she did so to become an English teacher. Soon following graduation, she found herself working as a teacher, coach, and administrator in her school district. After six years, however, she decided she was ready for a change and began working as a senior sales professional for a few years before returning to school to receive her master’s and doctoral degrees. Pursuit of her professional degrees led her to work in the field of higher education; she is began working for the North Dakota University System (NDUS) in roles like the dean of faculty and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. In 2013, however, she began her current role as the executive director of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders (NDCEL). Copas has distinguished herself as a leader in the field of public education, and she has proven herself to be a determined, motivated, driven, and kind guide for school district leaders. Copas, her husband Shannon, and her two daughters live in Bismarck.