Susan majored in Sociology at Grinnell, graduating in 1986. She returned to Iowa City for grad school, earning a Master’s in Social Work with an emphasis in Administration. She found she enjoyed researching social justice issues, developing programs and procedures that helped people, and working with groups. Susan’s first position was working for Hennepin County as a social services planner for northwest municipalities. One of her programs received statewide recognition for offering opportunities for elders to participate in planning for elder services. After a few years, she joined a federally funded program in Minnesota, serving people with disabilities on assistive technology issues. Susan conducted statewide and national trainings on becoming ADA-compliant, as well as helping community groups secure funding to improve access to assistive technology. Then, Susan writes, “I took a ‘jump to the left’ and joined an interfaith group promoting congregational involvement in social justice issues for several years. Ultimately Ibecame a volunteer director at a mega-church with over 6,000 members and stayed there for over 10 years.”
Susan continues her story, “During that time, I became interested again in disability access as both my children have disabilities. After a few disastrous educational experiences, followed by one really great one, I decided I wanted to be a special education professional. I attended Walden University (online) for a Master’s in Teaching/Special Education and worked as an Americorps Reading Specialist. While I enjoyed my tenure in public schools, it proved too physically demanding working with students with severe behavioral challenges. I started tutoring in 2012, where I could teach 1:1 or in small groups, rather than managing behaviors all day in a classroom. I have been online since 2016, still serving students with disabilities who are homeschooling, have had traumatic experiences in school, or have medical issues that prevent them from attending school.”
Susan shares, “I also found through managing my own ADHD that I was really good at organizing. While my executive functions needed work to maintain focus, I am really good at setting up systems and helping others set up systems to support a calming environment. I’ve been doing that kind of work on the side since 2009.”
Susan is eager to talk with current students about “what I do now and the pivots I’ve made throughout my career.”
About Grinnell, Susan recalls: “My Grinnell experience was mostly centered on South Campus, with a few journeys to North Campus to play on the women’s club soccer team. Some of my favorite classroom memories were taking electives outside my major, including the Theory of the Leisure Class with Professor Dawson and Trans-Mississippi Westward Expansion with Professor Heitala. Being grounded in the study of group experiences through sociology and anthropology helped me make sense of the world once I left Grinnell. [Additionally,] my experience in Grinnell in London showed me that I can take risks, but I prefer ones that connect me to home. I have been to nearly every reunion open to my year and to my husband’s year (class of 1988) since we graduated. There is a level of critical thinking that I appreciate from Grinnell grads, no matter the year or career path. I noticed that I typically had a much easier time in my master’s programs because of that strong foundation in research, exploration, and critical reasoning from Grinnell.”