Susie A. Cavanaugh

Susie Atlene Cavanaugh was born on September 27, 1949, as the fourth child of Nancy Martin Cavanaugh and Plomer Cavanaugh. Susie grew up in the small, rural town of Cadiz in far Western Kentucky. She attended public schools in Trigg County, before coming to WKU. While on the Hill, she majored in sociology, minored in social welfare, and was a charter member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, she earned a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction from University of Kentucky in 1973. She received Rank I Certification in secondary administration and supervision in 1985, and returned to University of Kentucky in 1989, to complete a minor and certification in history.

Susie’s teaching career began in 1971, at Tates Creek High School where she taught a variety of social studies disciplines. When the new Paul Laurence Dunbar High School was completed in 1990, she transferred there, teaching U.S. History and later serving as Social Studies Department co-chairperson. She was assigned to schools in Mercer County, Covington Independent Schools, Floyd County, and Jefferson County. In 2002, she retired from Fayette County Public Schools after 30 years of service.

Following retirement from teaching, she founded and coordinated the Get on Board Program through United Way of the Bluegrass. The Get On Board Program was designed to recruit, train, place, and retain underrepresented people on nonprofit boards throughout Lexington and Central Kentucky to increase board effectiveness. Under her leadership, 200+ graduates were placed on several boards, councils, committees, and commissions throughout the Central Kentucky region. After five years in that position, she retired in March of 2009.

Susie was a member of several service organizations, including Top Ladies of Distinction, National Council of Negro Women, and Lexington-Central Kentucky Section. Some of her professional activities included Kentucky Leadership Academy, Central Faculty Forum Chairperson, Fayette County Public Schools Equity Council, Paul Laurence Dunbar SBDM Council, and Kentucky Retired Teacher Association. She was also selected as a Highly Skilled Educator with the Department of Education in 2000.

Susie had one daughter, Dr. Melanie Ogunmefun. Like her mother, Melanie attended University of Kentucky, graduating in 1998. Susie passed away on March 21, 2013.

To honor her memory, Melanie established the Susie A. Cavanaugh Scholarship Fund in September of 2013. The fund assists deserving African-American women who are WKU students, of the Christian faith, have at least a 2.8 GPA, and are involved in public service. Through this fund, Susie’s legacy lives on.