B.A., University of Chicago, 1978
M.Ed., Bank Street College, 2000
Spelman College Board of Trustees: Elected in 2019
City of Residence: New York, New York
Susan Dunn is a retired elementary school teacher who has spent the past 15 years as an active volunteer and philanthropic supporter focused on educational opportunities for children in under-served communities. She volunteers twice a week in the KIPP schools in Newark, New Jersey with students in elementary and middle schools.
Although raised in California and Washington state, Dunn lived in New Jersey for two decades and continues to have strong connections there through her board service with Teach for America: New Jersey, The Nature Conservancy, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. Booth is herself a “Big Sister” and she and her “Little Sister” have been matched for eight years. She is also a member of the national and Newark boards of BRAVEN, a program to empower college students with skills for strong first jobs. In New York City, where she now lives, Dunn serves on the board of Soho Rep., an innovative small theater.
Dunn taught at Kent Place School and The Montclair Kimberley Academy in New Jersey. Prior to her career in education, she worked at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising in media planning on accounts like Mattel Toys, Kimberley Clark and American Express.
A small, strong, institution provides outsized opportunities. My mother graduated from Scripps College so I know the positive impact that a women’s college provides. Specific to Spelman, I am impressed with the graduates I meet whether they are teachers, authors, politicians or scientists. A strong Spelman supports not only college students but also American society writ large. As a graduate of The University of Chicago, which shares many of the same very early institutional founders, I am honored at the opportunity to join in the work at Spelman.
