DSU Heritage Foundation Board Highlight: Susan Anderson ’78

Susan Anderson spent 40 years teaching at Richardton-Taylor High School, where she coached speech and student congress and directed theater. She also served as an adjunct professor of speech at Dickinson State University.

Since retiring, Susan has remained actively involved in education across North Dakota. She serves as district chair of the North Dakota Roughrider Chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association and is a member of the Communication, Speech and Theater Association of North Dakota, where she mentors new coaches and directors. She also works as a stage manager for the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

In her free time, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing the piano, and reading books and play scripts.

Susan serves on the DSU Heritage Foundation Board and is a member of the Development Committee, with a strong interest in alumni committee work. She was motivated to join the board out of gratitude for her education at DSU and a desire to give back to the university.

“First, my eternal gratitude for the education I received at DSU, especially from Dr. Winifred Stump Delong and Jean Waldera,” she said. Susan also believes strongly in preserving DSU’s history while supporting its future as a significant institution in North Dakota.

Her advice for current students is simple: Keep an open mind, build relationships, and absorb every experience.

Fun fact: One of Susan’s favorite DSU memories is serving as Homecoming chair when the entertainment was Olivia Newton-John. Then, she was a new performer to the United States.

Written by Alician Parks — DSU HF Student Writer