Monica Wooden | 2024 USF Class of ’56 Award

Monica Wooden, USF’s 2024 Class of ’56 Award recipient, has transformed her grit and entrepreneurial spirit into a legacy of impact. Growing up in a large family of Italian immigrants in New York’s Finger Lakes, Monica’s love for sports earned her college scholarships in softball and basketball. The first in her family to attend college, she shifted from a focus on physical education to statistics, leading her to IBM and ultimately to co-founding MercuryGate in 2000, a pioneering cloud-based logistics company known for its innovation and inclusivity.

After selling MercuryGate in 2018, Monica’s passion for supporting others only grew. She was instrumental in developing USF’s supply chain program, donating $5 million to establish the Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability. Her philanthropy also spans causes from domestic violence support to youth sports, always aiming to make a lasting difference.

Today, Monica serves on various boards while enjoying her love for fishing, golfing, and softball. Congratulations to 2024 USF Class of ’56 Awardee, Monica Wooden!