Susan Hess

Susan Hess is an Associate Teaching Professor of Practicum Education at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma-informed care and healing-centered engagement for communities impacted by violence, incarceration, and war.

Her academic credentials include:

• MSW from the University of Southern California (1993)
• BA from Scripps College (1991)

Hess pioneers trauma-informed methodologies in social work education, focusing on healing-centered engagement for survivors of intimate partner violence and incarcerated populations. Her research bridges classroom theory with real-world applications through Prison to Higher Education initiatives and virtual learning environments, emphasizing resilience building and social justice frameworks that address systemic inequities while promoting student self-reflection and professional growth.

Her publication trajectory reveals consistent innovation in adapting trauma-responsive practices to digital education spaces, with recent works analyzing mass casualty event impacts on virtual classrooms and developing coaching frameworks for equitable field education. These contributions establish foundational approaches for integrating historical trauma awareness into contemporary social work pedagogy.

Professional recognition includes:

• Marjorie Braude Award (2013) from the City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force

Hess advises Unchained Scholars supporting formerly incarcerated students and the Jewish Student Affinity Group, while co-founding Trauma Informed LA and co-hosting the "Our Stories Matter" podcast. Her leadership extends to the District Attorney Gascon Crime Victim's Advisory Board (Founding Member) and NASW-CA Committee for Nominations and Leadership Identification (Chair), demonstrating commitment to community-centered advocacy and systemic reform.

Through Trauma Informed LA and Unchained Scholars, Hess cultivates community-academic partnerships that transform institutional practices while amplifying marginalized voices through the "Our Stories Matter" podcast platform, creating sustainable pathways for trauma survivors in higher education and public service sectors.