In Memoriam: Susan Mancuso

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In Memoriam: Susan Mancuso

July 9, 2025

Susan Mancuso, former chair of Woodring's Department of Educational Leadership and former cirector of Western's Student Affairs Administration graduate program, passed away after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease on April 27 at age 76.

Employed with Western from 1993 to 2011, Susan made an enormous impact on the lives of countless students, colleagues, and future administrators in higher education.

Susan was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated from Morningside High School in Inglewood where she met her future husband, Jim. After attaining her bachelor's degree in Anthropology from UCLA, Susan and Jim moved to Bellingham in 1971 as Susan enrolled at WWU in the master's-degree program in Sociology. Susan then began a long career in higher education, serving as faculty at Whatcom Community College for many years, eventually holding the role of Dean of Students, and later, the Chief Student Affairs Officer (1985 - 1995). Along the way, in the 1980s, Susan completed her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at the University of Washington. Her dissertation topic of self-directedness, age, and nontraditional higher education prepared her well for her roles within WWU's Woodring College of Education.

Beginning in 1995, Susan served as the chair of the Adult and Higher Education Department as well as faculty in the Student Personnel Administration (SPA) program and the Adult Education program. From 2003 to 2011, Susan was the director of Western's Student Affairs Administration (SAA) graduate program, renaming and revamping the SPA program to come more in line with the current research and trends in student development theory and practice, informed by her regional leadership of NASPA, a key national professional association for student affairs educators. Under Susan's leadership, the SAA program trained several dozen exceptional educators and administrators who have taken roles all throughout Washington state and beyond, supporting the growth and development of college students and carrying on Susan's passion for student growth and learning. Susan shaped the SAA program into a highly innovative program that stood out among similar programs in the nation and was well-regarded for its academic rigor.

After retiring, Susan remained very involved with the local League of Women Voters chapter and pursued the activities she loved.

Former colleagues shared these remembrances of Susan:

From former WWU Dean of Students, Ted Pratt:

"Susan was a beloved teacher, colleague, and friend! She was valued by many for a number of reasons; being smart, a good writer, a treasured advisor and confidant. Her ability to transcend cultures provided all of us with a level of trust and comfort during different times, in an environment where DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] was just becoming an emerging focus."

From Woodring Program Coordinator, Sherry Haskins:

"Susan was a passionate, exemplary educator. She always modeled the leadership and administrator skills that she instilled in her Student Affairs Administration students."

From Patricia Fabiano, former SAA faculty and former director of the Prevention and Wellness Program at Western:

"Susan was the consummate professional whose work was guided by the highest professional and ethical standards. Collaborating with Susan and strengthening the Student Affairs Graduate Program was a privilege for me. Every year, we were excited to welcome a new cohort of graduate students. Susan set the goal of providing each of these students with the finest and most individualized graduate training experience possible. We prided ourselves on populating institutions of higher education up and down the I-5 corridor with the most creative, data-driven, well-rounded student affairs professionals. Susan's legacy lives on in the work that each of these students accomplishes.

After 15 years as director of WWU's Prevention and Wellness Program, I was given the greatest professional opportunity of my career when Susan asked me to join her as permanent faculty in the Student Affairs Graduate Program. I will always be grateful to her for the gift of working in the SAA Program and being in the classroom with our remarkable students.

On a personal level, Susan and I were friends. We were walking buddies, members of our own two-person book club, and good listeners for each other. We solved the world's problems over and over again in our many turns around Lake Padden. We celebrated birthdays, new grandchildren and new pets. She was a friend of the heart and I will miss her."

Susan leaves behind her daughter Jennifer Morrow, grandchildren Yale and Ella Morrow, sisters Barbara Rognlen, Connie Harsell, Peggy Ellertson, and husband Jim.

To read more about Susan's life or to leave memories and condolences, visit her obituary online.