Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.
When she’s not challenging students in her psychology classes, Dr. Susan Durr is rolling down the river.
Full Name: Susan Durr.
Residence: Macon.
Originally From: Louisville, Ky.
Family: "I have been married to the love of my life, Ralph, for 31 years. We have a daughter, Amanda, a recent alumna of the Macon State School of Education."
Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy, Child Development, College of Human Sciences, Florida State University; Master of Arts in Religious Education, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Bachelor of Science in Sociology, University of Louisville.
Job Title: Associate professor of psychology.
Year she joined the Macon State faculty: 1999.
Teaching Career Highlights: “In 2010, I was presented the ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’ by the National Society of Leadership and Success. In addition, I was proud to be selected as a delegate by the University System of Georgia to receive the Chancellor’s Grant to study in Hungary in 2004. A memorable milestone was achieved when I was invited to the University of Mumbai, India in 2000 to teach as guest lecturer a Human Development class.”
I enjoy teaching at Macon State because … “I thrive in our diverse climate in which I can connect with individuals from many walks of life. I enjoy challenging students to discover more about themselves and ways to improve the quality of living for others. I have also engaged in a myriad of opportunities for professional growth and development. I have collaborated with colleagues in numerous venues, co-presenting papers at conferences and co-teaching classes. Recently, I received support from the Macon State Foundation to develop a reading initiative to teach global awareness to children.”
Her favorite course to teach is … “All of my courses are my favorites while I am teaching them! The range of topics in the field of psychology is appealing at many levels: My first love is ‘Child/Adolescent Psychology’ but the longer I teach ‘Gerontology,’ I grow even more fascinated with unique paths individuals choose to navigate the later developmental stages of life. I am also passionate about teaching ‘Social Context of Public Service Agencies.’ When we tour local social service agencies in this class, I take pride in finding many of our graduates employed as leaders in the human services field in Georgia.”
The one thing people don’t know about Macon State is … “We have awesome Baptist Campus Ministry groups on our campuses. Our mission is to invest in building relationships with our students to spur them to experience a transformational faith in Jesus Christ. It is my privilege to serve as their faculty advisor.”
The one thing people don’t know about her is … “I am a ‘river rat.’ I am happy to paddle my kayak down a peaceful river or better yet, to careen downstream in a surge of white water!”
In her spare time she likes to … “Play tennis, hike and go to Zumba and yoga classes.”
The one person she’d most like to meet is … “A dream of meeting this person actually occurred last Thanksgiving Day when my family received an invitation to meet my daughter’s birth mom for the first time. WOW! I am so thankful; her two beautiful sisters, grandparents and extended family now make our family complete. Life is full of amazing surprises!”
If she wasn’t a professor she would … “Embrace my wanderlust to travel and explore mission opportunities serving others. ‘ The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.’ -- Robert Louis Stevenson, 1885.”