Meet the Host: Susan D. Seal

Susan D. Seal, PhD is a higher education leader, innovator, and passionate believer in the transformative power of human connection. As Dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies and Executive Director of the Center for Distance Education at Mississippi State University, Susan spends her days thinking about how we learn, grow, and prepare for the future. But her most personal work explores a different kind of education—the lessons we inherit from the women who raised us.Susan's professional journey reflects a rich tapestry of experience across private industry, international ministry, and higher education. Her international ministry work took her across cultural boundaries, where she focused on improving both the spiritual and physical well-being of communities while planning and leading transformative women's ministry initiatives. In private industry leadership she served as Vice President and General Manager of a marketing company in Atlanta, where she honed her skills in communication and strategic thinking.

She began her higher education journey with Mississippi State University Extension, carrying forward a legacy her mother began—her mother also served in the Extension Service, instilling in Susan a deep commitment to accessible education and community impact. These varied paths have given her a deep appreciation for the power of authentic connection and meaningful conversation.
Susan's commitment to service extends beyond campus. She currently serves as President of the Starkville Rotary Club, which is the largest in the state of Mississippi and as a member of the Board of Directors for UPCEA, the Online and Professional Education Association, where she helps shape the future of professional and online education at a national level.When she's not recording conversations, working in the community, or leading workforce development initiatives, Susan can be found preparing elaborate meals for friends and family, or for wine and food pairing programs through Wine the Experience. She also co-hosts a professional podcast UnchartED State: Remapping Higher Education, where she explores trends transforming the academic landscape.A Daughter's Inheritance was born from Susan's deepening understanding of her relationship with her own mother, insights that became clearer and more profound after her mother's passing. Through intimate conversations with daughters whose mothers have passed away, the podcast creates space to explore the richness of maternal relationships and celebrate how the inheritance of memory, values, and wisdom continues to shape who we become. These conversations honor not what was lost, but what remains—the enduring influence of mothers who continue to guide, teach, and inspire.*