REFERENCES

Our daughter left high school at age 16 after passing the high school equivalency test.  After attending junior college, she transferred to your college where she again had difficulty completing her degree due to a lack of self-confidence and other struggles.  This resulted in several gaps in attendance, one of over a year, which left her to conclude that she would never finish her degree.  However, due to your insightful encouragement and understanding of her special needs, she finally graduated and received her degree.  She and we, her parents, know that she would not have graduated without your assistance and guidance. We feel that you treated her as if she were your own child, and our family will forever hold a special place in our hearts for you. -P. F. and S. F., Parents

"…due to your insightful encouragement and understanding of our daughter's special needs, she finally graduated and received her degree…"

"She demystified all the intimidating aspect to moving through school toward graduation and always been so encouraging…"

My name is Jo Lind and I have had the pleasure of working with Susan consistently through my transition from high school to college. I in fact left college at the beginning of my junior year to gain work experience and to see what life was like outside of the spectrum of education. I have just completed my first year back at college since that break, and I was so overjoyed to have Susan there to help ease me through that transition as well. It is an amazing opportunity to be back in school when one is truly ready and committed. Susan has been extremely patient with me and has always taken a genuine interest in my goals. Making these changes is often overwhelming, there is always a lot of information to take in and what seem like a lot of tough decisions to make, I would have had a much harder time of getting through it and understanding it all without Susan’s guidance. I miss her terribly, but the other thing is that as a result of working with her I know I can move forward now on my own. She demystified all of the intimidating aspects to moving through school toward graduation and has always been so encouraging. Thank you Susan!!! -Jo Lind, Former Student

Ms. Susan Martin was my son’s Academic Advisor at the San Francisco Art Institute. He took a gap year after his first year as a student there.  While the time that he chose for his gap year was unconventional, Susan recognized that in order for him to succeed in school he needed life experience. Susan provided very insightful support and guidance in planning that break, and as a result of her input he gained the life experience that he needed in order to blossom as both a student and a young man. With her assistance our family came together and supported his unorthodox decision. He is now finishing his BFA and once again consulting Susan for guidance in the next phase of his academic development. -L.K., Parent

"…As a result he gained the life experience that he needed in order to blossom as both a student and a young man."

Having worked with Susan Martin on a range of projects over the past fifteen years, I am continually impressed by her consistently wise, strategic and experienced counsel.  Her insight into and ability to identify and understand the complexity of an issue and map out a successful solution is unique. She is an outstanding advisor, professional colleague and mentor. Susan is an invaluable asset.
-Jeremy Stone, Business Matters in the Visual Arts, New York/San Francisco

To me, and maybe unbeknownst to her, she's been an advisor, a surrogate parent, a psychiatrist and a friend.  She helped me get through many difficult times.
- L. S., Student

I have worked closely with Susan Martin in her capacity as an academic advisor. I have always admired her ability to bring different parts of the institution together: administration, other faculty, and students. She helps each constituency feel that its sometimes antagonistic interests are represented in a way that maintains the integrity of the institution. From her considerable experience, she brings to the table an extensive understanding of academic institutions and would be extremely adept at helping others to realize their potential, finding a sound course of study or developing a creative and productive space between self and institution.
-J.L., Professor