Susan F. Lusi, Ph.D., Ex Officio

Susan Follett Lusi has worked in both urban and suburban settings, and in practice, policy, and research, during her over 30-year career. Since 2016, she has served as the President & CEO of Mass Insight Education & Research (Mi).  Sue has led efforts to strategically grow Mi’s school improvement services and diversify its board and staff.  Under Sue’s leadership, Mass Insight has strengthened its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion and serving systemically marginalized students and families.  Forty-five percent of Mi’s Board and staff identify as BIPOC.  Mi currently serves 15 partner sites, including more than 9,000 schools, and 5,500,000 students nationwide.

Prior to joining Mass Insight, she served as Superintendent of Schools in Providence, R.I.  She was credited with increasing student achievement and opportunity, leading to improved graduation rates, and reading proficiency scores, particularly among English Language Learners.

Sue was a champion for Providence students and families. To enhance the college and career readiness of Providence students, she and her team increased Advanced Placement, Career and Technical Education, and dual credit offerings in all high schools, as well as established partnerships with institutions of higher education. Sue also collaborated with the Providence School Board and Providence Teachers’ Union to develop board policy and teacher contract language supporting increased school autonomy.

Sue previously served as Superintendent of Schools in Portsmouth, R.I., Chief of Staff for Providence Schools, and Assistant Commissioner for the Rhode Island Department of Education. She started her career at Brown University working for the Coalition of Essential Schools and the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, as well as serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Taubman Center for Public Policy.

Sue is the author of The Role of State Departments of Education in Complex School Reform (Teachers College Press, 1997). She holds a B.A. in Economics and a M.A. in Teaching Social Studies from Brown University, and a M.P.P. and Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University.