Susan Thaxton is the Chief Programs Officer for the Mission Continues, a national non-profit that empowers veterans to continue their service by applying their leadership skills and experience to volunteer in under-resourced communities in forty cities across the country. A Navy veteran herself, Susan came to The Mission Continues as a volunteer and was inspired by the incredible impact veterans can make when serving alongside each other in local communities and finding their new mission to address challenges we face here at home.
Susan has diverse experience that includes service in the military, private, and non-profit sectors. After graduating from Villanova University, Susan was commissioned into the U.S. Navy where she served as a Surface Warfare Officer on the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) and the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51). After the Navy, Susan transitioned into the private sector, working for General Motors.
Through her volunteerism, Susan found her way into the non-profit sector where she rediscovered her passion for mission-driven work. She has consulted with numerous non-profit organizations on strategy, fundraising, and board development. Prior to joining The Mission Continues, Susan served as the Executive Director for Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake.
Susan holds a BA from Villanova University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her husband, Mickey, their two daughters, and their cat and beagle.
My network of professionals working on countering hate in all its forms grew exponentially after attending Eradicate Hate in 2021. The myriad voices represented at Eradicate Hate, from big tech companies to academic researchers to those with lived experience, reinforced to me the importance of cross-cutting and collaborative approaches to counter hate and its devastating impacts on society. I’ve been fortunate to sustain and build those networks with many of those I met at Eradicate Hate in 2021.
