Susan Resneck Pierce

Susan Resneck Pierce is President of SRP CONSULTING, LLC and President Emerita of the University of Puget Sound where she served from 1992-2003. Under her leadership, Puget Sound entered the ranks of the national liberal arts colleges. Today, she advises colleges and universities on effective board and presidential performance, governance, board development and strategic planning. She coaches presidents, advises board chairs and facilitates focused retreats for boards, president’s cabinets and faculty. Dr. Pierce writes and speaks extensively about higher education and American literature. Jossey-Bass published and Inside Higher Ed sponsored her two recent books: Governance Reconsidered: How Boards, Presidents, Administrators and Faculty Can Help Their Colleges Thrive (2014) and On Being Presidential: A Guide for College and University Leaders, (2012). She is also the author of The Moral of the Story and co-editor of a book on Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. She has served as VP for Academic Affairs at Lewis & Clark College, A&S Dean at the University of Tulsa, Assistant Director of Education Programs at NEH, Visiting Associate Professor at Princeton and Chair of English at Ithaca College. She has been active in many civic, cultural and professional organizations. Susan Pierce received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, her MA from the University of Chicago, and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, all in English.