Middle School Speaker Series: Dorothy Suskind ’92

On April 16, Steward’s Middle School Speaker Series welcomed Dorothy Suskind, Ph.D., to campus. Dr. Suskind is a writer, researcher, and an assistant professor in the Education and Counseling Department at Longwood University. And … she’s a Spartan!

The Middle School Series aligns with Steward’s Compass 2028 strategic plan, which includes six core values (innovation, inspiration, care & respect, individuality, academic achievement, and civil discourse). Ann Robbins, Middle School academic dean and dean of students, organizes the series. 

Dr. Suskind began her presentation onstage in the Lora M. Robins Theatre by sharing photos of herself, including charming images of her life as a Middle School student at Steward. She emphasized the importance of being kind to others and speaking up to prevent bullying: lessons she learned at school that inspired some of her research. 

She asked the audience, “Where do you belong? I want you to whisper your answer to the person next to you.” After a moment, she said, “Now, SHOUT out your answers!” and the theatre filled with exuberant voices. Finally, she asked for volunteers to share where they feel a sense of belonging.

“I belong with my volleyball team!” exclaimed a student. Another said excitedly, “With my mom!” Dr. Suskind smiled encouragingly and noted that a sense of belonging is “evolutionary … we need it for our health.” She continued, “Do you know what happens when we ‘un-belong’ — when we don’t feel a sense of belonging?” She said that the sentiment “My heart hurts” — when you feel you don’t belong or feel a sense of rejection — manifests in the body and that these changes can be seen on brain scans. 

Porter Cram ’29 volunteered to join Dr. Suskind onstage and, at her request, to repeatedly ask her, “Who are you?” Her prompt responses helped demonstrate that we are all multi-dimensional. The experience compelled Porter to ponder how he thinks about himself. 

“I was scared at first, but I came away with a new definition of who I am,” he said. “I feel that when you ask yourself who you are, it can lead to defining your identity, which I believe is important in Middle School.” He added, “The speaker series is a great way for students to learn from successful people. It is great to know that the school I go to creates people like Dr. Suskind who do so much in their communities.”

Dr. Suskind explained that knowing yourself, feeling secure in the company of others, and sharing your energy and time with those in need are essential to belongingness. She said that her years at Steward helped nurture a deep sense of belonging. A writer and artist, she said, “Steward was an open space to create,” and noted that her art teacher, Rugene Paulette, was such an inspiration that she dedicated her dissertation to her.

“Research confirms what we witness daily in Middle School: Our students’ well-being is deeply tied to their developing sense of identity and their sense of belonging,” said Ms. Robbins. “At The Steward School, we value our community, and Dr. Suskind’s presentation brought that to life. She returned to the very place that helped shape her and engaged meaningfully with students, sharing personal experiences and offering practical, thoughtful guidance on how to navigate relationships and build connection.”

Steward faculty regularly engage in professional development to keep up with best practices and trends and to exchange ideas. On May 12, Steward will again welcome Dr. Suskind to campus, where she will attend a Middle School faculty meeting to share strategies about writing in the classroom and further expand on the idea of belonging.