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We are honored and excited to announce that Suzanne Elise Walsh has been appointed as the next president of City University of Seattle, effective July 1, 2025. With over 20 years of experience in transformational higher education leadership, Ms. Walsh brings a wealth of innovation and a strong commitment to student success.
Ms. Walsh previously served as President of Bennett College, a historically Black liberal arts college for women, where she led the institution through significant challenges and growth, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic. Her extensive experience includes leadership roles as the Deputy Director of Postsecondary Success at the Gates Foundation and key positions at the Lumina Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives to improve educational outcomes for underserved and non-traditional learners, focusing on student success and socioeconomic mobility.
Ms. Walsh’s leadership has earned national recognition, particularly for her work addressing the challenges faced by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), APLU institutions, and community colleges. Under her leadership, Bennet College was recognized as a Fullbright HBCU Institutional Leader for five consecutive years, ranked #1 in Social Mobility in 2022 and 2023, by U.S. News and World Reports, and designated as one of the nation’s “Best Women’s Colleges,” by BestCollege.com in 2023.
Additionally, she has served on nonprofit boards such as the Trellis Foundation, Achieving the Dream, and the Women’s College Coalition. Her data-driven approach, combined with her expertise in innovation, technology, and design thinking, has led to groundbreaking improvements in higher education nationally. Her contributions to education have been recognized with honorary doctorates from Case Western Reserve University and Johnson C. Smith University.
Ms. Walsh’s educational journey reflects her deep understanding of diverse student experiences. She holds a juris doctorate and master’s in social work from Case Western Reserve University, a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and an associate degree in applied science from Hudson Valley Community College.