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Long Time Supporter of Women:
Suzanne Forsyth

Suzanne Forsyth is ACE's beloved former director of Human Resources. She served ACE for more than 24 years in this role. But Suzanne's role as HR Director reached far beyond attracting and retaining bright and talented employees to ACE; she was also extensively involved in building networks and alliances for many people, particularly women and people of color who worked at ACE and in other area higher education associations. In fact, Suzanne is recognized as the founder of Women Administrators in Higher Education (WAHE), which in 1999 became the official Washington DC Network of women leaders.

When I recently sat down with Suzanne to hear about some of the highlights of her career, I learned of her many laudable accomplishments: She developed a comprehensive health insurance program for the higher education associations under a Multiple Employer Trust; established a tuition assistance policy to be part of the ACE benefits package; extended life insurance to all ACE employees (which previously had only been for senior executives) and health insurance to cover all women for maternity (which previously was not extended to single women). Outside of ACE, she served as President and Treasurer of the National Association for Women in Education; received numerous HR awards and accolades.

What Suzanne is most proud of from her years as HR Director at ACE are the advances she made in diversifying the organization. She came to ACE in 1973 with the experience to do just that after taking a lead role in integrating the dental school and the nursing staff at Georgetown University in the late 1960s. When she arrived at ACE, she recalls the only people of color were in service jobs and there were no women among the executive staff. She shared a wonderful story of recently sitting at an OWHE women's leadership dinner at the ACE Annual Meeting and several of the women around the table (Gwen Weaver, Lynne Gangone, and Blandina "Bambi" Cardenas) all recounted stories of when Suzanne had either hired them at ACE or in another association with which she was affiliated.

Suzanne gives Bob Atwell, former president of ACE, credit for much of her career successes due to his forward thinking and creative leadership. Under him, Suzanne was able to create a social action program for the National Center of Higher Education that received recognition from the Point of Lights Foundation. For almost 15 years there was a monthly program held in Suzanne's home for job seekers and women in transition. Also, under Atwell's leadership, Suzanne chaired a black tie event at the Air and Space Museum held in conjunction with the ACE Annual Meeting. This event was organized to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of higher education to counteract the bashing and attacks the higher education community received during that era from William Bennett, former Secretary of Education. Under Atwell's leadership, every employee was important, and they all knew it. That helped to create a great team between him and Suzanne.

In addition to all her accomplishments, Suzanne was widely sought after to inspire change in human resources and organizational development nationally. She frequently served as keynote speaker at annual state-wide and regional conferences for ACE State Networks (then called ACE National Identification Program), including in MN, WI, OK, MI, NC, RI, and NYC.

Life after ACE has not slowed down much for Suzanne. Since 2000, she has run her own consulting practice—Suzanne Forsyth Associates—which focuses on areas of organizational planning and reorganization, team building, as well as other issues. In spite of her busy schedule, Suzanne still finds time to meet with, inspire, and encourage many women of all generations to pursue our dreams and to expand equal opportunities to all. We count ourselves among the fortunate individuals who benefit from Suzanne's wisdom, friendship, and expertise.

Sincerely,

The Staff of the Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE)
& The Steering Committee of Women Administrators in Higher Education (WAHE)