Dr. Mary
Beth Susman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky
Commonwealth
Virtual University,
an institution formed by the Kentucky legislature to create quality distance
learning opportunities and services provided by all the independent and
public institutions of Kentucky and other providers.
Before
coming to Kentucky, she was founding President of Colorado Electronic Community
College, a virtual community college formed to deliver the degrees and certificates
of the Colorado Community College System which makes her the first person
in the U.S. to head two virtual state-wide postsecondary institutions.
Dr.
Susman is a well-known national speaker on issues in distance education
and the virtual university, and most recently was named by the Smithsonian
Institution as a Smithsonian Laureate. Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University
was inducted into the permanent archives of the American History Collection
of the Smithsonian Institution as an example of how technology is promoting
the economic, social and educational advancement of the U.S. She
also received a Bellwether Futures Award from the League for Innovation
for her planning, finance and implementation of the Colorado Electronic
Community College.
Mary
Beth received her BA degree from Creighton University and her MA and Ph.D.
from the University of Denver in Sociology. Her research emphasis has been
technology innovation in higher education.
Mary Beth Susman
