Board Co-Chair
Suman joined the South Asian Network Board in 2019. She currently serves as the Academic Senate President at Long Beach City College (LBCC). Suman is the first Asian American and second woman of color to hold this position in the 95 years of the institution. In this role, she functions as the voice for all faculty in academic and professional matters with the Governing Board and college administration. Suman currently chairs the Strategic Planning Oversight Taskforce, the College Planning Council, the Student Success Committee, Academic Council, Hiring Priorities, and the Faculty and Staff Equal Employment Committee.
As an Asian-American woman, she understands and identifies with the lack of minority representation in academic leadership positions. Her lived experience allows her to see beyond the higher education equity lens and connect with faculty and students’ needs on a personal level.
In recognition of her outstanding work leading the Cultural Curriculum Audit, Suman will be featured as a Leader Driving Change on CollegeFutures.org in 2022. This series highlights leaders who are shaping the future of higher education through equitable student-centered support, innovative practices, and continuous improvement across three focus areas: increasing ease of transitions for all students, providing holistic student supports, and prioritizing equity and inclusivity.
Suman considers herself one of the lucky people in the workforce that has the privilege of doing the work she is most passionate about it; which is changing lives. Her most important job is being a mom to her 9-year old daughter. She lives in the San Gabriel Valley with her husband, daughter, and two boxer dogs.
