This article was written by Kim Asarta.
Some lessons last a lifetime. Economic and personal finance education offers many of these powerful lessons, equipping individuals not only with budgeting and saving skills but also with the confidence, independence and sense of possibility needed to succeed.
Ronni K. Cohen dedicated much of her career to teaching these essential tools for life. She believed deeply in the power of economic and personal finance education to help students dream bigger, live smarter and reach further.
A teacher, mentor and advocate for economic, personal finance and entrepreneurship education, Cohen was also a longtime volunteer with the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE). Her connection to the CEEE spanned much of its 54-year history, and her work helped shape Delaware’s educational landscape. She inspired generations of students and educators to embrace personal finance and economics as vital life skills—lessons that continue to resonate.
Thanks to a generous gift from Sharon M. Cohen and the Cohen family, Ronni Cohen’s legacy will continue to open doors for more teachers, students and opportunities across Delaware.
“We wanted to honor Ronni’s memory with this endowment to continue her gift of inspiring teachers, and soon-to-be teachers, with the importance of teaching economics, entrepreneurship and personal finance to students of all ages,” Sharon Cohen said.
Through the newly established Ronni Kate Cohen CEEE Fund, that impact will grow. The fund will allow the CEEE to expand its high-quality, in-depth professional development programs for K-12 educators across the state. These programs will align with state standards, address real classroom needs and provide participants with practical strategies, renewed confidence and the ability to prepare students with lifelong financial skills.
As part of this investment, the creation of the Ronni K. Cohen Personal Finance Educator of the Year Award will recognize outstanding educators who bring financial education to life with passion and purpose. More than a tribute, the award will elevate the importance of financial literacy in schools, spotlight the work of exceptional teachers and inspire others to bring these essential lessons into their classrooms. It will celebrate innovation, leadership and a shared commitment to preparing students for a financially secure future.
Bonnie Meszaros, a longtime colleague and former associate director of the CEEE, reflected on Cohen’s lasting legacy.
“Many of the programs that the CEEE offers today were initiated by Ronni,” Meszaros said. “Our Meaningful Economics Competition, Mini-Society and Bank At School are a few of those initiatives that were inspired by her. This endowment will ensure that Ronni’s love of teaching and her belief that all students should be grounded in economics and personal finance will live on through teachers attending CEEE-sponsored programs.”
Cohen’s contributions to economic and financial education in Delaware were profound. She co-founded the Meaningful Economics (ME) Competition with Meszaros, a program that continues to engage elementary students in hands-on learning experiences rooted in economics and real-world decision-making. She also launched Bank At School, a pioneering program that brought banking literacy directly into classrooms, giving students firsthand experience with saving and financial responsibility.
For her work, Cohen earned national recognition, including the 2014 Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award, the 1993 Inc. Magazine National Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year, and Delaware’s 2000 Teacher of the Year.
Thanks to the Ronni Kate Cohen CEEE Fund, her legacy will endure. By investing in teacher training and recognition, this gift ensures that more educators are empowered and more students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive financially. It is a powerful step toward a future where every Delaware student benefits from the lifelong lessons Ronni K. Cohen championed, lessons that change lives.