Member Spotlight: Suzann K. Campbell ’65, MS’68, PhD’73
Where is your hometown?
I’m the proud daughter of a Wisconsin cheesemaker (can’t get more genuine than that!) and grew up in New London, Wisconsin.
How did you hear about the WPC?
I’m delighted to join this group I first heard about when Martha Taylor ’71 was such an innovator in developing approaches to women’s philanthropy at UW–Madison, and I was working as an assistant to the provost of the University of Illinois–Chicago.
Describe your connection to UW–Madison.
I’m a first-generation college graduate who just couldn’t seem to leave Madison. I got degrees in physical therapy in 1965 and 1968 and a PhD in neurophysiology with a minor in child psychology in 1973. I taught pediatric physical therapy at UW–Madison and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. Then I finished my academic career as head of the physical therapy department at the University of Illinois–Chicago. Along with a devotion to physical therapy for very young infants with developmental disabilities, I am passionate about mentoring junior faculty.
How do you spend your time?
Although officially retired from academia, I am a partner in a small education and publishing business supporting pediatric therapists who work with infants born preterm or with special health care needs. Aside from managing the e-learning experiences of our customers all over the world and introducing our test of movement development for young infants in China, I enjoy volunteering to prepare tax returns for low-income Chicagoans through Ladder Up, a nonprofit organization in the federal VITA program. My hobby is ikebana flower arranging, and I’ve recently achieved instructor status. We also enjoy our vacation home on Waubee Lake near Lakewood, Wisconsin. I’m a loon ranger, reporting annual bird activity for Wisconsin Project Loon Watch at Northland College.
What is something important/fun for the WPC to know about you?
In addition to the fact that I spent my honeymoon at the Wisconsin Union (no money, nice lakeview rooms!), another Wisconsin-related fact about me is that for 20 years — until last year, when I turned it over to my nephew — I owned the red-and-white 1969 Ford Mustang convertible that UW–Madison Chancellor Bill Sewell purchased when he was fired as chancellor during the difficult times of antiwar activity on campus. The social sciences building is named for him, in recognition of his distinguished academic career.
