Susan Lettera
Coming Full Circle: Susan Lettera, MSW Program Coordinator
As a high school senior, Susan Lettera applied to only two schools for Social Work—Temple University and Marywood College. Choosing Marywood was both a personal and family decision. Her mother wanted her children to attend a Catholic school, and Marywood also offered one of the best Social Work programs in the Northeastern United States. It felt like the perfect fit.
During her years on campus, she built memories that still bring a smile decades later. Whether stringing popcorn and cranberry garland with her roommate to feed campus squirrels, sunbathing on the roof of Regina Hall, or working one-on-one with Dr. Crabtree in research class, her Marywood experience was a blend of personal joy and academic growth.
She carried forward lessons that would shape her career and leadership style—chief among them, the knowledge that it was okay to fail and still succeed. With the support and encouragement she found at Marywood, she discovered that missteps were simply opportunities to grow stronger, a lesson that guided her through every chapter of her career.
After graduating in 1987 with a BSW and a minor in Sociology, Susan began her career as a group home supervisor for women with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Over the years, she took on increasingly significant administrative roles across agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, all while pursuing advanced education, including a Master’s in Public Administration at Kutztown University.
In 2001, she joined Lehigh County Children and Youth, where she spent 15 years and expanded her impact by serving in multiple leadership positions, including CASSP Coordinator and eventually Director of Integrated Services. During this time, she also completed her Master’s in Social Work at Widener University through the Child Welfare Educational Leadership (CWEL) Program.
Her connection to Marywood remained strong. In 2019, she began serving as a Faculty Liaison with the School of Social Work. By 2021, she joined the adjunct team in the Lehigh Valley, and in 2023—after retiring from a 22-year career with Lehigh County—she returned to Marywood as the MSW Program Coordinator of the Lehigh Valley Program.
Today, Susan finds success not just in her professional achievements, but in happiness—measured by meaningful relationships, health, family, and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. For her, Marywood has always been more than a school; it has been both the foundation of her journey and the place she calls home.