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President Susan R. Burns, PhD

Biography

President Susan R. Burns, PhD, stands in front of a stone wall on the Mount Saint Vincent campus, with greenery in the background, wearing a black blazer with her hands clasped

 

Dr. Susan R. Burns serves as the sixth president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent, where she champions the transformative power of the liberal arts and the enduring values of the Catholic intellectual tradition. With a steadfast commitment to educational access, equity, and excellence, Dr. Burns leads with purpose, vision, and a deeply rooted dedication to the common good and Vincentian service.

Since joining the University in 2021, Dr. Burns has led a dynamic period of growth and innovation, including the successful transition and rebrand from the College of Mount Saint Vincent to the University of Mount Saint Vincent in 2024. Under her leadership, the University launched its new college structure—organizing academic programs into distinct schools—and introduced Seton College, a holistically supportive associate degree program serving students with high academic need. She has overseen major capital improvements, secured substantial public and private funding, expanded global and online academic offerings, and forged new partnerships to widen access to the University’s undergraduate and graduate programs—including launching the first registered master’s degree in physician assistant studies in the Bronx and spearheading efforts to enhance education in the arts by establishing the UMSV Conservatory and community music school. She has also strengthened the University’s historic relationship with its founders, the Sisters of Charity of New York, honoring their legacy and deepening the University’s mission.

Throughout her work, Dr. Burns has also demonstrated a deep and sustained commitment to the Bronx, expanding the University’s role as an active neighbor and participant in the local community. She has fostered partnerships with local organizations, broadened access to educational and cultural programming, and prioritized initiatives that align with the social, economic, and health needs of the borough.

A nationally respected psychologist and educator, Dr. Burns remains active in her field, collaborating across disciplines to mentor students in research and publication. A prominent advocate for student success and undergraduate research, she has sponsored student publications in the Psi Chi Journal and the Journal of Psychological Inquiry. Additionally, she is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and textbooks, including Psychology of Sex and Gender and Human Relations for the Educator: Meeting the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow, now in its second edition.

Dr. Burns is a recognized leader in higher education and has been honored by organizations including City & State New York, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, and the American Association of University Women. Most recently, she was named a Woman of Distinction by the Bronx division of My Sister’s Keeper and the Office of the Bronx Borough President, and was honored by the Bronx Arts Ensemble at their 2025 gala.

Dr. Burns previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Prior to her time at Clarke, she was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where she taught psychology and statistics and held the rank of full professor with tenure.

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in experimental psychology from Emporia State University and her PhD in social/personality psychology with an emphasis in child development from Kansas State University.

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

Current

  • Alumni Advisory Council for the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kansas State University | Member
  • Association for Psychological Science | Member
  • Bronx Chamber of Commerce | Board of Trustees
  • Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) | Board of Trustees
  • Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) | President Member
  • International University of Kuwait | Board of Trustees
  • Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society Chapter at Kansas State University | Member
  • Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology | Member
  • Riverdale Main Streets Alliance | Board of Trustees
  • Society for the Teaching of Psychology, APA Division 2 | Member
  • Women’s Forum of New York | Member

Former

  • American Conference of Academic Deans, Member | 2010-2020
  • Ask Big Questions, Advisory Board Committee Member | 2016-2018
  • Association of University Professors (formerly AAUP), Member | 2015-2021
  • Divine Word College, Board of Trustees | 2020-2025
  • Journal of Psychological Inquiry, Managing Editor | 2006-2012
  • Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research, Consulting Editor | 2004-2010
  • Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, IA, Long-Range Planning Committee Member | 2016-2020
  • Teaching of Psychology Journal, Reviewer | 2008-2021