Susie (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in Sociology at the University of Connecticut, where she studies higher education and the experiences of the people who study and work within it. Her dissertation explores why people leave social science PhD programs and how leaving can be understood as an institutional process rather than simply an individual decision. After completing her PhD, Susie is interested in pursuing a career in applied policy that addresses systemic disparities and expands access to resources needed in people’s everyday lives, including food access and justice. She is particularly interested in approaches that center lived experiences and build coalitions between academic research, public policy, and community organizing.
When she’s not working, you can find Susie hiking or taking a long walk with her dog Cooper.