Susan Klusmeier, Ed.D. Chief of Staff Dr. Susan Klusmeier is chief of staff for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. A native of the Chicago suburbs, she brings 20 years of experience as a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader in higher education. Throughout her career, Dr. Klusmeier has advocated for and implemented data-informed policies and practices to support access to education and workforce development. She is committed to community engagement and leveraging the lived experience of individuals to help identify sustainable solutions to real-world problems. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Klusmeier was the vice provost for academic success at the University of Kansas. She has held various roles throughout her career focused on student success at a variety of institutions including KU, the University of Missouri – Columbia, The Ohio State University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a champion of access and education, she successfully leveraged and expanded resources to support student success initiatives with a commitment to closing equity gaps. She partnered with regional and national organizations to design scalable initiatives to improve postsecondary degree attainment, reduce time to degree, and decrease student debt. Dr. Klusmeier earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in higher education administration from the University of Kansas. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania where she graduated with double distinction. She is a member of the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity Advisory Board and a volunteer with NASPA – Student Affairs Professional in Higher Education.