Susan Hess, MSW, LCSW-IL, is an associate teaching professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Professor Hess is a transnational speaker and relational organizer in the areas of trauma informed care, healing centered engagement and the intersections of intimate partner violence. She collaborates with social work students who were formerly incarcerated to provide support in navigating through school, licensing issues and pushing back on systemic barriers that students who were formerly incarcerated face through a trauma informed healing centered approach.
Professor Hess is the co-founder of Trauma Informed LA, whose mission is to foster resilient communities that promote healing and well-being through collaboration, education and community engagement. She is the co-host of Trauma Informed LA’s Our Stories Matter podcast with Unchained Scholars alumnus Yehudah Pryce. Our Stories Matter is a podcast celebrating the complex lived experiences of activists and healers by sharing their inspiring stories.
In recognition of her dedication, Professor Hess was presented with the distinguished Dr. Marjorie Braude Award by the City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence City Task Force in October 2013 for innovative collaboration in serving victims of domestic violence. She is a founding member of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon’s first Crime Victims Advisory Board.