Susan Duffy

Assistant Professor
F: 617-521-3880
susan.duffy@simmons.edu

Ph.D.,George Washington University; MS, Johns Hopkins University; BS, Pennsylvania State University


Specialization

Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behavior

Bio

Susan Duffy is recognized as a source of thought and initiative in advancing entrepreneurship, developing innovative education programs, and delivering system-wide value in diverse organizations. She is first and foremost an entrepreneur and has brought opportunity-based thinking and behavior to work as a university professor, an association executive, a business owner, and a consultant.

Susan earned her Ph.D. from The George Washington University (GWU) in Management and Organization, a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Science from the Pennsylvania State University.  While completing her doctorate, Susan was a faculty member of the GWU Department of Management where she served as the Executive Director of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and the Director of the GWU Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) initiative.  In 2006 WEL was recognized as the 2006 National Model Specialty Program in Entrepreneurship Education by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.  In her role as the Executive Director of the ICSB, Susan worked with an international team of researchers, policy makers, educators and service providers dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship and small business worldwide.

Susan teaches a range of courses in the entrepreneurship and management disciplines and has a passion for creating value for students that transcends traditional learning experiences.  Before entering academia Susan was co-owner of a family business commercial construction company and owned and operated a Chinese Food franchise restaurant, Ho-Lee-Chow. She has held leadership positions in health care and worked as an organizational consultant and trainer in private and public work systems.

Current Course(s)

  • Introduction to Entrepreneurship, MGMT 237
  • Entrepreneurship Certificate Program Practicum, GSM 603
  • Organizational Communication and Behavior, MGMT 234

Publications

  • Solomon, G., Duffy, S. and Tarabishy, A. (2002). The state of entrepreneurship education in the United States: A nationwide survey and analysis.  International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 1 (1), 65-86
  • Van der Horst, R., King Kauanui, S., and Duffy, S. (Eds) (2005). Keystones of Entrepreneurship Knowledge.  Maldon, MA: Blackwell.
  • Solomon, G. & Duffy. (2004). An examination of Technology Tools used in Entrepreneurship Education.  Proceedings 17th Annual United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dallas, TX.

Research

  • Creating Relevant and Useful Entrepreneurship Education for Women
  • Entrepreneurial Learning: Exploring Unexpected Key Events in the Post Startup Period
  • Entrepreneurship Education: Women, Men, Sex and Gender

Awards & Accolades

  • Entrepreneurship/Small Business Award (2007). The George Washington University School of Business, Washington, DC. 
  • ICSB Board of Directors Service Award (2007). The ICSB 52nd World Conference, Turku Finland.
  • National Model Specialty Program: The GWU Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (2006).  The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education Awards, Tucson, Arizona.
  • Doctoral Student Award for Outstanding Commitment to the School (2005).  The George Washington University School of Business Board of Advisors, Washington, DC.
  • ICSB President’s Award (2005).  The ICSB 50th World Conference, Washington, DC, USA.
  • ICSB President’s Award (2004).  The ICSB 49th World Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Best Workshop Entrepreneurship Education (2004). “Towards University-wide Entrepreneurship: Unique Obstacles, Creative Approaches and Sustainable Models.”  17th Annual United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dallas, TX. Session coordinator: Michael Morris, Witting Chair in Entrepreneurship, Syracuse University.
  • Excellence in Entrepreneurship Teaching (2003). The Experiential Classroom IV, Lifelong Learning for Entrepreneurship Education Professionals. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. 
  • Undergraduate Teaching Award (2002).  The George Washington University, School of Business and Public Management, Washington, DC.

Professional Memberships

  • Direct Selling Education Foundation: Board of Directors (2005-Present)
  • Founding member: GWU Women’s Leadership Institute (2005-Present)
  • Academy of Management (2002- Present)
  • USASBE (2000-Present)
  • ICSB (2000-Present)

Consulting Work

  • The World Bank, Washington, DC, 2007-Present                
    Curriculum development: WEB3: Women Entrepreneurs Building Bankable Businesses.  Design learning experience for unique learner: adult, woman, entrepreneur.  Curriculum combines theory and practice in gender-relevant design.  Activities Includes creation of robust, pedagogically consistent instructional sequence, development of experiential and participatory exercises, and formatting materials to maximize learning experience.
  • Elon University, North Carolina, 2007-Present
    Facilitating strategic planning process with the objective to enhance existing Business School entrepreneurship curriculum options while examining interdisciplinary opportunities for entrepreneurship education programs.
  • Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, San German Puerto Rico, 2007-Present
    Leading a cross-disciplinary team of faculty, administrators, and staff to design, implement and evaluate a mentoring program for students.  Program objectives include building a mentoring culture within the university and increasing student retention and engagement rates.
  • Towson University, Towson, Maryland, 2006-Present
    Leading cross-disciplinary faculty team to develop and implement cross-campus entrepreneurship program. Work includes defining program mission and objectives, curriculum development, and creating value proposition for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Small Business Counselors Development Program, Lagos Nigeria, 2006
    Delivered Small Business Counseling Certification and Train the Trainer programs in cooperation with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Lagos Business School Enterprise Development Services (EDS) for 50 professionals in accounting, law, and management fields

Speaking Engagements

  • Grady, V., Davis, E.B., Duffy, S and Olsen, N. (2008).  OBT Symposium: The Power of Effect, Eastern Academy of Management, Washington, DC. 
  • Duffy, S. (2007). Wish I’d Known That: Lessons Learned from Women Entrepreneurs. Academic Keynote: Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Conference. Syracuse, New York. 
  • Duffy, S. (2006). GWU Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Model Curriculum: Exporting Women’s Leadership Education.  Puerto Rico and Barbados, ICSB Speakers Series.
  • Duffy, S. (2005). GWU Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative: Global Opportunities.WASME World Conference, Bucharest, Romania.
  • Duffy, S.  (2004) The George Washington University women’s entrepreneurial leadership initiative, OECD Accelerating Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum, Istanbul, Turkey. 
  •  Duffy, S. (2003). Perfecting the  pitch: Creating new- venture presentations to educate and inspire your audience. Women igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship (WISE) Conference, Syracuse University Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, Syracuse, NY. 
  •  Duffy, S., Nixdorff, J., & Winslow, E.  (2003). Evaluating a pilot program:  Women's entrepreneurship education at The George Washington University - Developing successful women entrepreneurs through knowledge, skills and experience.  Workshop at the Annual Conference of the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
  • Duffy, S., Nixdorff, J., Solomon, G., & Winslow, E.  (2002). Designing undergraduate women’s entrepreneurship education: Encouraging entrepreneurial success through knowledge, skills, and experience. Workshop at the Annual Conference of the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Reno, Nevada.
  • Duffy, S. & Solomon, G. (2002).  Expanding the field of family business research. Paper session at the Annual Conference of the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Reno, Nevada.
  • Duffy, S., Solomon, G., Nixdorff, J., & King, S. (2002).  An examination of family business issues: Theory and reality.  Professional Development Workshop, Academy of Management Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado.
  • Duffy, S. (2002).  Financial issues for your entrepreneurial venture. Workshop at the National Conference of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Duffy, S. (2001).  Funding sources for entrepreneurial ventures.  Workshop at the National Conference of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Anaheim, California.
  • Duffy, S. (2000).  Building an effective business plan. Workshop at the Regional Conference of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Solomon, G., Duffy, S., & D’Onofrio, S.  (2002). The new entrepreneurs: Creating an online internet-based youth entrepreneurship curriculum. Workshop presented at the International Council for Small Business 47 World Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

Last Updated: June 26, 2009 12:19 PM | Content Editor: SOM