Author | Investigative Journalist
Warrior for Upstarts and Underdogs
Speaking Engagements
Susan has presented and taught at numerous universities, Fortune 500 companies, and literary events. She's appeared on TV and radio stations, podcasts and webinars, and served as keynote speaker for artistic and charity events. Her interactive presentations emphasize audience involvement, where her enthusiasm combines with her down-to-earth style to create speeches, craft talks, and interactions that meet audience members where they are.
She is available for speaking engagements (book talks, panels, seminars, workshops, keynotes, etc). Please click the "Contact" button below and tell us about your event and needs.
Main speaking topics include (but not limited to):
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Books and Articles Talks
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"Digging Deep and Getting Dirty: How 4 Years of Research Behind Mothers in Arms Transferred to the Page"
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"Qualified Immunity: The Irony of Stare Decisis When Victims Have No Rights"
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"Writing is the Prep Work. Editing is the Party."
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"Though She Be but Little, She Is Fierce: How Literary Humor Gave Voice to the Innocents Who Changed the World"
Past Speaking Events
Guest Lecturer
“Words Matter: The Discourse of Self-Defense"
From Susan's book, Mothers in Arms: How police created and the media exacerbated false narratives in two officer-involved shootings. How reporters and staff writers manipulated creative writing techniques like choice of verbs, inaccurate timelines, and story-building tension in lieu of credible, fact-checked, and unbiased journalism.
William Jewell College
Kansas City, MO
Guest Lecturer
"Follow the Money: A Systems Perspective of Two Police Shootings"
From Susan's book, Mothers in Arms: The underlying system of a district/prosecuting attorney's reelection and how money feeds the epidemic of police shootings.
William Jewell College
Kansas City, MO
Commencement Speaker
"Be Humble and Excited to Fail"
"Your family is so proud of you. You are the embodiment of their unconditional love and sacrifice. You are the product of their complete self-diminishment. You are the reason they are smiling today, and not just because your move back home means they’ll no longer have to text you,
“What’s the Wi-Fi password again?”
Department of Communication
University of Illinois Champaign, IL
Residency Emcee
Pacific MFA Faculty Readings
As residency emcee, Susan introduced 21 authors/faculty members over six nights for their public readings. She took a unique approach. Instead of presenting a list of their books and awards, which anyone could read on their websites, she spent half a year on research and in-depth interviews to discover the hidden gems in each author’s upbringing and writing life: his or her falls and fears, and the humor, courage, and resilience demonstrated in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
MFA in Writing Program
Pacific University,
Portland, OR
Guest Lecturer
"The Hidden Systems at Play: Or Why Everyone in the Company is Acting Exactly the Way They Should Given the System They're In"
A New Perspective on Systems Thinking in the Workplace and Society
Department of Communication
University of Illinois Champaign, IL
Guest Speaker
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT’s)
Systems Thinking in Action Conference
How the largest school district in Missouri transformed its vision and curriculum to prepare students for the knowledge economy
Portland, Oregon
Facilitor and Cohort Leader
Masssachusetts Institute of Technology "Leadershape" Program
One-week business orientation and leadership conference for MIT's incoming freshmen.
Cambridge, MA