Susan Austin (she/they) is a collaborative leader with a focus on community care and narrative building. She brings leadership experience in climate and environmental justice, higher education and narrative storytelling.

Susan has a BA in Directing and MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and worked in script development and, later, documentary production — where she first developed her love for narrative. Following a passion for working with students, Susan transitioned to higher education, working in Student Affairs as Assistant Dean of Students for Parsons School of Design and, then, Associate Provost for Student Life at The New School.

In 2023, Susan completed an MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management at the New School, exploring frameworks of care as a means of addressing the climate crisis. She is now the Centering Justice and Narrative Director at the Tishman Environment and Design Center, where she oversees their Centering Justice initiative and strategic narrative work. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and is an enthusiastic participant in civic life.