Susan Burress

Susan C. Burress came to Campbellsville University in the fall of 2019 after retiring from public education in Kentucky. She is a graduate of Campbellsville High School and a resident of Campbellsville, Kentucky. Susan taught students with disabilities at Nelson County School District and Spencer County School District. She then served as the Director of Special Education, Preschool Coordinator, and Section 504 Supervisor for the Owen County School District for six years. Afterward, she was hired at Southgate School District as Director of Special Education, Preschool Coordinator, and Section 504 Supervisor.

Susan is a graduate of Liberty University, where she earned a PhD in Education with a specialization in Special Education and graduated with a 4.0 GPA in all courses. Susan’s research topic was "Dealing with Student Trauma: A Qualitative Case Study," which centered on the role that special educators play in helping their students cope with past or current trauma. It can be found at https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6654/.

 

Degrees:

Western Kentucky University, B.A.- Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies

Campbellsville College, Middle Grades certificate in English and Communication (1990)

Western Kentucky University, Rank II Certificate in both Trainable Mentally Handicapped and Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (1994)

Western Kentucky University, M.A.- Education (1997)

Western Kentucky University, Rank I – Director of Special Education Professional Certificate (1997)

Liberty University, PhD – Education: Special Education (2025)

 

Campbellsville University Committee Membership: Cheatham Center Advisory Council, School of Education. Campbellsville University School of Education Memberships: Undergraduate Committee, Diversity Committee, Special Education Advisory Council, CAEP Standard 2 Committee

Special Education Presentations formed for Pre-Professional Development: Collaboration and Communication, Dyslexia, Engaging Students Who Have Disabilities, The Essence of Special Education

Member of the following Professional Organizations: Council for Exceptional Children, Southern Early Childhood Association, Institute for Higher Education Special Education Consortium in Kentucky, Kentucky Association of School Administrators, Omega Nu Lambda National College Online Honor Society

 

Susan has three daughters. Her first daughter, Shara, moved to heaven in 2019 and is the reason why she studied and taught students who have disabilities. Susan enjoys spending time with her other two daughters and four grandchildren. In addition to family gatherings, she enjoys visiting points of interest in Kentucky and throughout the United States.