Donna Cupelo ’78
Retired Vice President, Verizon
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
Donna Chevalier Cupelo ’78, who retired in 2021 after 24 years in executive roles with Verizon, is a highly accomplished senior executive and board member. During her career, she spearheaded multiple initiatives that grounded Verizon as an industry leader in advanced telecommunications technologies and corporate social responsibility. She earned a reputation as a dedicated business partner to community, municipal, and government organizations, a highly respected corporate executive, and a passionate advocate for workforce development.
As the vice president of public policy – Central-New England Regions from 2019–2021, she was selected to lead state government affairs in a strategic, first-of-its-kind community engagement initiative in key central and regional cities, including Denver, Chicago, Providence, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis, covering 22 states. She worked with internal partners to roll out innovative campaigns to build mutually beneficial relationships between Verizon and the communities and to educate constituents on wireless technology solutions. Her efforts were acclaimed by C-level peers as a best practices template for national adoption.
From 1997–2018, Mrs. Cupelo was region vice president of Verizon New England, where she headed major initiatives, including a two-year project, One Fiber City, in Boston. She developed innovative agreements to enable flexibility and cost-effective deployment of advanced and wireless technology, including 5G. This culminated in her co-developing a national playbook for 5G and One Fiber that established guidelines for Verizon and municipalities in the United States for the deployment of those technologies.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Cupelo was recognized as a thought leader who championed leadership programs for women in technology and STEM initiatives and was an advocate for corporate philanthropy. She has served on multiple boards throughout Greater Boston and Rhode Island.
Mrs. Cupelo was a member of the Providence College Board of Trustees from 2000–2008. She and her husband, William F. Cupelo ’78, have maintained close ties with the college since their commencement and have been generous benefactors. Mrs. Cupelo received the Personal Achievement Award from the National Alumni Association in 2004 and has served on class reunion committees and the Providence President’s Council. She has a master of business administration degree from Babson College.
The Cupelos reside in Franklin, Massachusetts, and are the parents of two, including Elizabeth Ann Cupelo ’12.
