Suzanne Williams

I am a native South Carolinian and proud graduate of Converse University, Spartanburg, South Carolina and of the School of Social Work at UNC – Chapel Hill. I began my career in higher education in 1996 when I began working with traditional age students as the Director of Counseling at Salem College in Winston-Salem North Carolina. When serving as Acting Dean of Salem’s adult program in 2006, it was then that I found my true calling in higher education. All the pieces and parts of my background as a special educator, a therapist, and my work in grief counseling and social work with hospice all came together. I served as Fleer Center Dean at Salem from 2006-2014. In July 2014, I began serving in my current position as Dean of the Weekend/Evening & Online College at Mount Saint Mary’s University on the beautiful historic Doheny Campus in the West Adams historic district close to downtown Los Angeles. I at once connected with my Western Region colleagues. I have served on the Board for the Western Region, and on ACHE’s regional and national conference planning committees. I am involved with many professional organizations – yet ACHE has always remained my professional home. As a dean serving post-traditional students on both coasts – from the economic downturn in 2007 and the boom in adult enrollment then- to the pandemic and current economic challenges faced by our amazing students and our home institutions, I bring a wealth of experience and understanding of challenges to my ACHE Board service. My pledge is to serve with my head and my heart. I found my professional passion and calling when I began serving our post-traditional students in 2006. I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for ACHE and can’t wait for our national conference this October in beautiful Palm Springs, CA.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, antiquing, and spending time in nature with my Horticulturalist spouse. I would love to talk with you about what you are currently reading!