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Susan Haws
Founder and Executive Director at Insight Colearning Center
Professional Background
Susan Haws is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the field of health behavior and public health. With a passion for improving health outcomes through education and research, she has amassed a wealth of experience that spans various roles and organizations. Currently, Susan serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Insight Colearning Center, a position that underscores her commitment to integrating innovative learning approaches in public health education.
Prior to her leadership at Insight Colearning Center, Susan made significant contributions as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this role, she shaped the minds of future leaders in health behavior by sharing her extensive knowledge and research expertise. Her background as a Research Scientist at Innovation Research & Training and a Senior Research Analyst at Amplify depicts her strong analytical skills and ability to derive impactful insights from complex data.
Susan's career trajectory also includes her role as the Director of Evaluation and Analytics at Thrive 4-7, where she led the assessment and analysis of various health initiatives. As an Independent Research Consultant, she provided valuable expertise to various organizations, demonstrating her versatility and adaptability across different environments.
Throughout her career, Susan has held several significant positions at esteemed institutions such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), where she was a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Pre-Doctoral Fellow, and the University of Washington. Here, she contributed to numerous research projects focused on health policy and development, thereby positively impacting human services and policy analysis.
Her early career experiences as a Lead ESL Teacher and a Middle School Teacher illustrate her foundational skills in education, enabling her to communicate complex concepts effectively to diverse audiences. Her time as a Corps Member with Teach For America highlights her passion for teaching and commitment to equity in education, setting the stage for her later endeavors in public health.
Education and Achievements
Susan Haws’s educational accolades are a testament to her dedication and expertise in health behavior. She earned her PhD in Health Behavior and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Behavior and Health Education from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a place renowned for its contributions to public health research and education. Her academic foundation is rooted further back in her Bachelor of Arts degree, with special studies in Psychology and Economics, obtained from Davidson College, which provided her with a well-rounded perspective on behavioral science and its implications for public health.
In addition to her formal education, Susan has been awarded multiple fellowships and honors throughout her career, including a significant pre-doctoral fellowship with NIDA that demonstrates her early promise in research. Her experience as a research manager and project director has allowed her to lead teams and initiatives that address pressing health issues.
Notable Contributions and Impact
Susan Haws has made a profound impact through her roles in research and education. As the Executive Director of Insight Colearning Center, she has paved the way for innovative educational practices that combine health behavior with interdisciplinary approaches. Her leadership aligns with her core values of fostering knowledge and skills that can lead to positive health outcomes for communities.
As a former Adjunct Assistant Professor, her teaching methods and curricula have equipped students with the tools needed to tackle today’s public health challenges. Her commitment to public health education extends beyond the classroom as she engages in direct community outreach and initiatives aimed at promoting health and wellness across diverse populations.
Moreover, Susan has made significant contributions to health evaluation and analytics, particularly during her tenure at Thrive 4-7 and through her consultancy work. Her knack for analyzing complex data sets and translating them into actionable insights has played a vital role in shaping health policies and programs that serve underprivileged communities.
In her earlier research roles, particularly at the University of Washington, she focused on human services and policy development, significantly influencing health strategies and programs at the community level. Susan has also collaborated with numerous stakeholders in the public health domain, enhancing her reputation as a knowledgeable and effective leader.
Overall, Susan Haws embodies the qualities of a dedicated health professional, educator, and researcher. Her journey through academia and practical applications in public health firmly establishes her as a thought leader in health behavior and education. She continues to inspire those around her as she works towards a healthier, well-educated society.