Opportunity isn’t equal, but for Dr. Susan Klusmeier, that has never been the end of the story. Through her work in education, philanthropy, and community leadership, she has made it her mission to remove barriers and widen the road for others. “Seeing my team, the people I supervise, and the people I mentor being willing to take the risk … and then seeing how that changes them, that is what keeps me going,” Susan said. “Because having mentors was such a powerful learning experience for me, it has really been core to making sure that people and communities have access.”
Today, Susan serves as chief of staff at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she supports organizational strategy, leadership development, and internal systems that advance the Foundation’s mission. “Susan has always been dedicated to creating access to education and opportunities for students who have been marginalized or left behind,” said Dr. Lori Reesor, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “She is a compassionate and strong leader who knows how to build systems that help students succeed.”
That dedication to equal opportunity shows up in Susan’s one-on-one mentorship and the broader systems she has helped shape. This includes her long-standing advocacy for gender and racial representation in leadership. “Susan is actively mentoring and empowering women to pursue leadership roles in education, the non-profit sector and beyond … to break through barriers and achieve their full potential,” said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace. “She has been a staunch advocate for gender and racial equality and representation.”
Susan’s service as an advisory board member to the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity underscores that commitment. She has supported programs that elevate women’s leadership across disciplines and backgrounds. In addition, as a KU Endowment board member, Susan has also focused on expanding scholarships and building emergency support for students facing financial crises. “I want students to know that there is a support system behind them,” she said.
While her mentorship often focuses on women, Susan’s systemic work has reached a broader student population. One example is Hawk Link, which Susan spearheaded at The University of Kansas. It is an access initiative designed to support student belonging and academic success. Beyond the initial setup, Susan found a way to grow the program’s impact by securing a $500,000 partnership with Adidas. With that funding, the program was able to scale its impact and remove financial barriers for students. “This type of budget for our program is unheard of, and the funding from Adidas included covering tutoring cost for all students, making tutoring free for campus,” said Dr. Melissa M. Peterson, director of Hawk Link.
But Hawk Link was only part of the story. “What has mattered the most, and what is not seen or told, is the volunteer work Susan took on to grow what is now the Office of Sovereign Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives,” Melissa said. The office has since become a model for how universities can partner with tribal communities while supporting Native and non-Native students alike. Melissa recalled the early stages of their work together, beginning when Susan hired her as director of Tribal Relations. “In just two short years, that role grew into an Associate Vice Chancellor role,” Melissa said. “Susan saw an opportunity and a need for the Native American community at KU. As a leader of color herself, I can only imagine the calling she felt to support the work of the newly formed office we created, the Office of Native American Initiatives.”
The office went on to support Native American and non-Native students alike by hosting events such as the KU Powwow and Indigenous Cultures Festival. It also expanded relationships with tribal leaders and education departments statewide. Under Susan’s leadership, the office went on to support the University’s early efforts to repatriate human remains and cultural artifacts, “Susan took the risk to grow what she envisioned to be needed at KU, and the impact she created is being felt every day,” Melissa said. “Just last Friday, KU signed its MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) with Haskell Indian Nations University. The praise from our Chancellor and Provost were for the work I did, but that work was made possible because of Susan. She is truly a changemaker.”
Susan’s commitment to representation, mentorship, and student support hasn’t gone unnoticed by her peers and community leaders. Laura Palacios, who nominated Susan as a Rising Star, pointed to the same themes, “Her courage, empathy, and dedication to youth development extend well beyond her career in higher education, including her work in supporting Native American students through initiatives such as establishing powwow grounds and tribal college partnerships,” she said.
Susan brings that same equity-centered mindset to her role at the Kauffman Foundation. In addition to leading organizational strategy and supporting senior leadership, she is known for helping teams work better together. That includes advancing conversations around inclusion and culture, both internally and externally. “My goal is to create systems that last and that keep working even after I’m gone,” she said.
Colleagues say Susan is driven by service, not recognition. She leads with consistency and a deep respect for the people her work is meant to serve. Susan describes leadership in much the same way. From her perspective, “A good leader is someone who is relational in nature,” Susan said. “They are also someone who is nurturing and pushing their people appropriately.”
Across all of her work and leadership, Susan’s focus is the same: helping people connect to what is already available. “We have such a plethora of opportunities in Kansas City,” she said. “The trick is to help people recognize what is already available out there,” she said. “I want Kansas City to be a place where everyone has a shot, where talent and potential are met with opportunity.” This commitment to shining a light on what is already possible for others is what makes Susan a true Rising Star.
Featured in the August 23, 2025 issue of The Independent
By: Monica V. Reynolds
