Mercy University Hosts Inspiring Webinar Featuring Arshay Cooper
In honor of Black History Month, Mercy University’s School of Nursing (SON) hosted an engaging webinar for students, faculty and staff featuring special guest Arshay Cooper—an author, leader, and champion of change.
“This month is a time to reflect, celebrate, and learn from the rich history, resilience, and contributions of Black individuals throughout history—and today, we have the incredible opportunity to hear from someone whose story is nothing short of inspiring,” said Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., president of Mercy University, in her introduction of Cooper.
Cooper’s journey from Chicago’s West Side to becoming part of the nation’s first all-Black high school rowing team led to his memoir A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team. His story of redefining the sport of rowing, which became a documentary narrated by Common, has inspired many.
During the discussion, moderated by the School of Nursing Dean Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, Cooper shared his experiences, challenges, and lessons in resilience and unity. He reflected on his accomplishments, highlighting milestones he never imagined as a teenager.
When asked about the top two accomplishments his 15-year-old self would have never imagined, Cooper acknowledged that growing up, it was difficult to even dream of such possibilities.
“In the last year, I signed a book deal with HarperCollins,” he said. “And March 12 has been proclaimed Arshay Cooper Day in Terre Haute, Indiana.”
Cooper also shared a personal moment tied to Black History Month—his nomination for an NAACP Image Award. “My grandmother and I used to watch the Image Awards together, and when I told her I was nominated, she said, ‘Of course, your book is nominated. You put so much heart into it,’” he recalled. His book was nominated alongside former President Barack Obama’s memoir, a moment of immense pride for Cooper and his family.
Cooper’s story is one of rewriting narratives and overcoming systemic barriers. He spoke about the violence he witnessed as a child, the obstacles he faced, and lack of resources and positive outlets –a reality for many kids, even today.
“Rowing gave me an opportunity I never knew existed,” Cooper said. It was more than just a sport for him, it was an escape and a transformative experience. “It was like a timeout before getting back to regular life,” he said. “To go from seeing dirt and concrete to water and grass changed everything. It wasn’t just about sports, but about environmental, social, and spiritual wellness.”
Rowing, he emphasized, taught him valuable life lessons. He learned that it did not matter where he came from or what he looked like because rowing teaches you to understand each other and row as one. “You can’t do the work of eight, but eight can get together to do the job of one. We don’t ask for sameness, we ask for oneness.”
He also learned the importance of forgiveness and connection. He shared an experience with a teammate who had a history of fighting but found discipline through rowing. Cooper had initially judged him for his past, but when he started having conversations with him, he began to understand where he was coming from and why he had made the decisions he had. “It’s connection, not correction,” he said. “People make no deposits before trying to make a withdrawal—you have to connect before you correct.”
Beard agreed. “I love it. Connect before you correct. You can’t withdraw unless you deposit. And call people in before calling them out,” she reiterated.
When asked outline what he considers to be the key elements of a winning team, he emphasized the following:
- Self-care – “You can’t be a better angel to your team than to yourself. Take care of yourself first.”
- Trust and understanding – “Great leadership requires trusting and understanding each other.”
- Passion and commitment – “There’s always someone who wants it more than anyone else. If you can get that person who is not the leader to get everyone else on the team on that equal level to put in as much as they did, you are then living in your championship.”
Cooper concluded the webinar with advice to his younger self and to students facing challenges today: “Ask for help. Take more timeouts, have more huddles, join book clubs, and engage in more conversations.”
In order to change the narrative, we need to have more conversations like these, we need to allow people to tell their stories, he added. “Helping people understand and calling them into our world and our stories is what I am trying to do.”
His powerful message resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the significance of resilience, unity, and seizing opportunities for change.