Meet our New Board Member Susan Abbott Martin

by John Alecca

Aug 14, 2024

Susan has joined our Board for the current year. She is the founder of Seize the Year, an organization dedicated to advising and supporting creative high school students with a focus on the Arts. With over 40 years of experience as a visual artist, art educator, and arts administrator, Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. Her career has encompassed work with individuals of all ages across various sectors, including museums, art centers, nursing homes, and colleges. 

Susan served as the Director of the Saturday Art School at Pratt Institute, where she guided undergraduate and graduate art students in areas such as creative idea generation, curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management. At the San Francisco Art Institute, she played a pivotal role in developing and overseeing support services, collaborating with the Office of the Dean to address shifts in student interests, engagement, and diverse learning styles, including ADHD, Autism, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia. 

Susan reflects, “In these times of heightened intolerance and challenges to our democratic values, it is crucial to nurture the imaginations of our young creative makers and thinkers. While private schools often support the arts, public schools—especially in California—frequently fall short. I am passionate about understanding how we learn, how our brains engage with the creative process, and the latest research on ‘neurodiversity.’ The experiential learning opportunities provided by Young Audiences of Northern California are vital, particularly for our neurodivergent students.” 
We are thrilled to have Susan's expertise and vision as part of our organization and are eager to see the positive impact she will make on our programs and community. 

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Susan Abbott Martin!