Susan Luchey brings over 30 years of developing student and community leaders to AACRAO. She is a familiar face at national leadership conferences and has earned a national reputation for having her pulse on what’s new in leadership education. Under her capable direction, the University of Delaware’s Blue Hen Leadership Program was recognized twice by the Association of Leadership Educators as the 2014 and 2021 Outstanding Leadership Program. This program, which Susan created from the ground up, continues to be a model for certificate programs in the United States.
Known as an innovator, Susan has been recognized by NASPA as a leader in innovative practices for the programs she has created through student affairs and faculty partnerships focused on leadership. She was awarded as the 2022 Robin Orr Practitioner of the Year by the Association of Leadership Educators. University of Delaware's Student Life Division honored her with numerous Bright Initiatives Awards for her innovative programs. Susan recently retired as the Associate Director of Student Centers for Student Leadership Development at the University of Delaware and is now engaging in consulting work in the field of leadership and program development and education.
As an experienced leadership educator and program developer, Susan has assisted various departments and campuses in developing their own leadership programs and serves on external review committees evaluating current programs. In addition, she consults with organizations and non-profits on strategic planning and program development. Previously, Susan served as the Manager of Student Life and Director of Student Involvement at the University of Baltimore where, among her many accomplishments, she developed and directed their campus-wide student leadership program, created their first full-scale orientation program for freshmen, and introduced the idea of a campus-wide Community Service Day. To complement her love of football, Susan has consulted for and presented leadership development programs to the Baltimore Ravens (despite being an avid Steelers fan!)In addition, she has led a leadership development series for NCAA athletic teams. Susan’s previous professional experience also includes managing four departments within the Division of Student Affairs including Student Involvement.
An active member of professional associations, Susan has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Leadership Educators and of LEAD365 National Student Leadership Conference, in addition to serving on a variety of non-profit boards. When you want to go from the theoretical to the practical application, there’s no one more qualified to help you make the connection.