The Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame was established by the National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC) to honor those individuals who are making a significant difference in the lives of youth and adults with disabilities through mentoring and to raise awareness about the importance of mentoring for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to induct Susie Rutkowski into the Susan Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.
Susie is the Co-Director and Educational Specialist for Project SEARCH. She is a nationally recognized transition expert with specific experience in program development in career technical education, job training and job development for young adults with disabilities. She served as the Manager for Disability Education at Great Oaks Career Campuses for over twelve years. During that tenure she, with Erin Riehle, co-founded Project SEARCH. Susie has been instrumental in designing the Project SEARCH Training Institute modules and leading replication efforts for new Project SEARCH sites. She speaks and writes on transition-related topics. With her Project SEARCH colleagues Maryellen Daston and Erin Riehle they wrote the books: High School Transition That Work: Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH.
Susie’s degree in Special Education was received from Bowling Green State University. Her Masters in Educational Administration was received from the University of Dayton and she did post-graduate work at Wright State University and Xavier University. In addition to her other positions, she taught young students with significant disabilities for eight years in northwest Ohio and worked for 10 years as a Job Placement Coordinator at Great Oaks for students and graduates with disabilities.
Susie lives in Loveland, Ohio with her husband, Joe, and is the proud mother of five children, Sharon, Noah, Kurt, Kevin, and Lucas. Most importantly, she is the proudest Mimi ever to Gallagher, Sophia and Jack. In her spare time, Susie dotes on her grandchildren, runs, and creates beautiful handmade greeting cards.
