Scholarship and Biography

Susan P. Curnan, founding Chair of the MPP Concentration in Environmental Justice, holds the Florence G. Heller Chair as Associate Professor of the Practice at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. The honor of this Inaugural Chair, in the name of the School's founder, was conveyed in 2019 in recognition of Professor Curnan's distinguished national career as a Practitioner-Scholar.


She joined the Brandeis faculty in 1983, after leadership positions in philanthropy, government, and business. Always focused on education, the environment, and the economy, Professor Curnan has held multiple leadership positions at Heller.


A graduate of The Yale School of the Environment, Curnan brings an ecological perspective and results-oriented leadership to all of her work at the university and with community partnerships across all sectors. During her tenure at the Heller School, where "knowledge advancing social justice" defines the mission, she has taught more than 110 courses to hundreds of graduate students.


At the University, Professor Curnan was elected and served an unprecedented four terms as President of the Brandeis University Faculty Senate, the elected representative body of the faculty which advises and consults with the President, Provost, and Board of Trustees on University governance matters.


As co-founder, and long time Director of the Center for Youth and Communities, (1983-2023), Curnan led a senior research and capacity building team dedicated to improving the life options and environmental conditions of young people whose supports and opportunities have been few by combining scholarly research and practical experience with an emphasis on education, workforce development, and community systems.


The Center's social impact work under Curnan's leadership was generously supported by government and philanthropy for nearly four decades. Grants and gifts exceeded $120M during her tenure.


Having served a PI on hundreds of projects over the years, Professor Curnan is a sought after speaker and consultant on topics of education and labor market access, equity and outcomes, and the human and environmental effects of climate change.


Today Professor Curnan is affiliated with The Center for Youth and Communities and The Institute for Economic and Racial Equity at the Heller School.

Honors

Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Women, Who's Who in American Education
Marquis Who’s Who, 1995-1996
Fellow of Berkeley College, Yale University in recognition of leadership and shared interest in environmental matters (on-going) (2003)
Yale University (United States, New Haven), 2003
Awarded sabbatical from Brandeis University. Traveled around the world, worked on manuscript for book about growing up at Val-Kill Cottage in the 1950's and 60's.
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2003
Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Frequent workshop discussant. (2003) </li><li>
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (United States, Washington D.C.) - NRC, 2003
National Governors Association's Youth Development Faculty Member, Washington, D.C.
National Governors Association (United States, Washington D.C.) - NGA, 2003
Selected Disney Corporation "Thought Leader" for Community Relations Department to help shape their brand and platform for "Helping Kids Shine"
Walt Disney (United States, Burbank), 2003
The Hitachi Foundation, Yoshiyama Fellowship Award Committee, San Diego, CA (on-going)
Hitachi (Japan, Tokyo), 2003
Appointed, National Scientific Research Council, America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth, Washington, D.C. ()
America's Promise Alliance (United States, Washington D.C.), 2005 - 2017
Appointed, National Research & Evaluation Advisory Board. Up to 10-year term
Skillman Foundation, 2007 - 2017
Honored for 25 years of dedicated service to Brandeis University. Celebrated with President, Provost, Dean and colleagues.
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2008
Appointed to United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley Youth Council. Three year commitment.
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, 2008 - 2010
Appointed to Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Thought Leader Advisory Panel for New England Education Systems Change
Nellie Mae Education Foundation (United States, Quincy), 2010
Elected to Northeast Institute for Quality Community Action Advisory Board
Northeast Institute for Quality Community Action , 2010 - 2012
Appointed to Center for Law and Social Policy, CLASP, Postsecondary and Economic Success Advisory Committee, Washington DC
Center for Law and Social Policy (United States, Washington D.C.) - CLASP, 2010 - 2013
Appointed to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation National Leadership Team for Post Secondary Success Initiative
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (United States, Seattle) - BMGF , 2010 - 2015
Appointed to National Council
Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Partnership, 2010 - 2020
Appointed to 2017 Task Force, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, New England Education Reform
Nellie Mae Education Foundation (United States, Quincy), 2012 - 2014
Elected , Yale University, Association of Yale Alumni Board
Yale University (United States, New Haven), 2014, 2016
Elected President of Brandeis University Faculty Senate
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2015- 2018
Elected President Brandeis University Faculty Senate () </li><li>
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2018 - 2019
Named Inaugaral Florence G. Heller Associate Professor of the Practice CHAIR
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2019

Organizational Affiliations

Florence G. Heller Associate Professor of the Practice, Emerita, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

Education

Yale University
M.F.S.
SUNY College at New Paltz
M.S.
Stony Brook University
B.A.