An artist’s perspective.
A leader’s experience.

Arts leadership, grounded in practice

At FSAF, Susan leads organizational strategy, financial management, fundraising, and program development for a festival encompassing music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing. Her work connects the practical needs of an organization with the artistic experiences it makes possible: coordinating people and resources, developing partnerships, and planning opportunities for participants and audiences.

She also remains active both backstage and in the rehearsal room. Her recent Fairbanks credits include producing, stage directing, music directing, and conducting. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, she was most recently seen supporting Fairbanks Drama Association’s production of Moriarty as a member of the highly visible backstage crew and can often be found assisting other local productions in securing props, costumes, and set pieces.

She produced and directed Next to Normal for FSAF in 2026; served as a mezzo-soprano soloist for Northland Choir’s annual Sing It Yourself Messiah with orchestra; provided both stage and music direction and conducted the pit for the FLOT/FSAF collaboration The Addams Family in 2025; and served as stage director and vocal coach for Mean Girls at Lathrop High School in 2024.

Connecting young people with the arts

Susan spent 18 years as a classroom music educator, teaching students from elementary through high school in Nevada, Indiana, California, and Alaska. Her work included general music, choral music, band, orchestra, and AP Music Theory. During those years, she directed award-winning high school choirs and numerous musicals and plays, led concert, chamber, and show choirs, and prepared students for college auditions, solo and ensemble events, vocal competitions, and other performance opportunities. Her teaching encompassed individual preparation and ensemble work, helping students develop their musicianship and bring their skills to the stage, the audition room, and the wider community.

As Nevada Opera’s Director of Education and Outreach from 2006 to 2010, Susan developed lesson plans and coordinated school programs associated with mainstage productions, outreach performances, and student visits to the Pioneer Center. She worked with teachers and school districts to help students encounter opera through preparation, participation, and live performance.

She also directed the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus from 2007 to 2010, recruiting and preparing young singers for concerts, children’s operas, and appearances in mainstage productions. At Brewery Arts Center, where she served as Music Director and Marketing Assistant from 2006 to 2010, her responsibilities encompassed musical preparation, production, supervision of musical and technical crews, marketing, ticket sales, and fundraising.

A broader foundation in nonprofit leadership

Prior to her return to Fairbanks in 2024, Susan spent ten years in private and independent school leadership, serving as Head of School—the equivalent of a superintendent—at Palm Valley School and Charles Wright Academy. Working with boards and senior leadership teams, she led strategy, finance, fundraising, personnel, facilities, and daily operations. Her responsibilities included overseeing annual operating budgets ranging from $7 million to $22 million and supporting the management of investments and endowments of up to $40 million.

Earlier, she led performing arts programs at Cathedral School for Boys and San Francisco Day School, combining teaching and production with curriculum coordination and instructional leadership. Her service also includes Symphony Tacoma’s Board of Directors and Leadership and Governance Committee, the Palm Springs Opera Guild’s Education Committee, and volunteer coordination for the Reno International Jazz Festival.

Musical training & continuing development

Susan holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Music in Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles. She earned postgraduate certificates through eCornell in Executive Women in Leadership and Finance for Nonprofit Organizations. She also completed two years of coursework toward an Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California. In 2009, she was named Nevada Music Educator of the Year.

Her work as an administrator continues alongside private voice teaching, performance, conducting, and direction—keeping her connected to the artists, educators, and community members her organizations serve.