Susan is a proven, experienced interdependent, and relational educational leader who thrives in the nexus of campus life having served in executive and leadership roles at independent schools (Governor’s Academy, Phillips Academy, Asheville School, Ravenscroft School) and in higher education (Duke University, Smith College).
Susan has been nominated and served on two NAIS Committees charged with examining best practices and providing recommendations to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of students, including being appointed to the NAIS/TABS Independent School Task Force on Educator Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response. Susan has also completed extensive training in leadership development and team facilitation with the Center for Creative Leadership (www.ccl.org) and utilized this interdependent leadership approach while serving as Assistant Head of School for Student Life at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC. In 2014, Susan appeared as an expert panelist on PBS/UNC-TV’s Focus On: Educating Black Boys, which explored issues around education, opportunity, race, identity, and parenting in the 21st Century. Additionally, Susan has completed the Racial Equity Institute Groundwater and Phase 1 training and The Principals’ Center (TPC) at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HGSE) program in Race, Equity, Leadership in Schools. Her clinical training has included two separate in residence internships at Duke University and has completed Advanced Clinical Certification in The Relational Model Levels I & II at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, part of the Stone Center, Wellesley Center for Women (WCW) at Wellesley College,
Susan is a published author and holds an earned doctorate in educational administration. She has served as consultant/advisor/educator to Boards of Trustees, executive leaders, faculty, families, students and has traveled extensively as a conference speaker and trainer nationwide. Susan is the Associate Head of School for Wellness and Belonging at Forsyth Country Day School.