Erin Susman

Erin Susman believes that everyone has the power to enact powerful change within their community if they are given the chance and tools to do so. It is this desire to enact change from the grass roots level that she found herself in the MPA program at Marshall University. After a few semesters of studying social work, Erin realized that her skills could be more effectively used in first better understanding the systems and structures that perpetuate economic injustice in our country. Through the Non-profit Management focus, she saw a roadmap to combine this understanding into action.

She holds a BFA in Drama and Global Education Studies from New York University, where she developed a passion for deep questioning, teamwork, and writing. It is from her time studying at NYU that Erin realized her true calling was in service to others. Upon graduation, Erin served a term as an AmeriCorpsVISTA member with Literacy Volunteers of Kanawha County, an adult-education nonprofit based in Charleston, WV. Her experiences as an AmeriCorps VISTA member led her to develop an interest in the community development sector, because it is the space in which her intersecting interests are given the space to thrive.

As a proud alum of the AmeriCorpsVISTA program, Erin is currently the Operations and VISTA Program Manager at WV Community Development Hub, a statewide community development nonprofit based out of Charleston, WV. In her role, she has the opportunity to mentor and build capacity in AmeriCorps VISTA members serving in The Hub’s program across the state, while supporting organizations and municipal governments in West Virginia to develop their own capacity to help end generational poverty. She also supports the several other community development programs that The Hub runs across the state, through her Operations role.

While future plans after graduation in Spring 2021 remain vague at this point, Erin hopes to continue to develop her skills in leadership and management to help build a better future for all West Virginians, alongside her neighbors and friends in the community development sector.