New Executive Director Search Initiated

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Bethesda, MD—National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Executive Director Susan Gorin has announced plans to retire at the end of June 2018. A search for Gorin’s replacement is underway with the help of executive search firm Vetted Solutions.

“Susan is an icon within NASP, as well as within the larger field of association executives, and she leaves an indelible mark on the association,” says John Kelly, President of NASP. “She has guided NASP through 25 years of sustained growth and forward-thinking leadership that has positioned us as one of the most effective and highly regarded member service and advocacy organizations in the country.”

Gorin leaves NASP in strong shape, with a robust membership of 25,000 school psychologists here in the United States and abroad and with the solid capacity to provide programs and services that support members and advance the mental health and learning needs of the children they serve. “Susan has always been committed to building the sustainable systems necessary to advance school psychologists’ ability to meet the needs of children, families, and schools now and into the future,” notes immediate Past President Melissa Reeves. “She has an uncanny ability to harness resources effectively and bring people together to do this work in good and tough times over the long term.”

Gorin cites the collaborative, problem-solving nature of NASP’s culture as one of the association’s greatest strengths. “It’s been my distinct privilege to work with so many dedicated school psychologists who volunteer their expertise, time, and hearts to ensuring that NASP serves our members well and remains an unwavering champion for the policies and practices that help all children thrive,” she says. “Leaving NASP is like leaving family, but because of our talented leaders and staff, I am confident in the association’s future health and relevance.”

As a colleague, Gorin will be deeply missed. Past President Todd Savage reflects that “Susan is the consummate professional and association executive. She can make you feel like the only person in the world in a room of thousands. She set the bar high for herself, which makes everyone around her strive for something greater.”

President-Elect Lisa Kelly-Vance adds, “A key factor in NASP’s effectiveness is our relevance in the broader education and mental health arenas, and Susan’s leadership style has been essential to developing critical partnerships with allied organizations, policy makers, and other stakeholders that make our work possible. She’s helped create a very solid foundation on which we will move forward.”

Gorin came to NASP after 18 years on staff at the Council for Exceptional Children and is NASP’s second executive director. Incorporated in 1979, NASP is the world's largest organization of school psychologists, is dedicated to the practice of school psychology, and works to positively influence outcomes that directly affect the lives of students, families, and school communities. NASP advances the discipline of school psychology through (a) establishing high standards of training, practice, and ethical conduct; (b) providing diverse and robust professional development opportunities; (c) engaging in advocacy and services that promote nondiscriminatory, culturally responsive professional practices and equitable, high-quality education for all of our nation’s children and youth; and (d) initiating collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders to support comprehensive and integrated school psychological services in adequately resourced and supported educational environments.

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For further information, contact: Katherine Cowan, Director of Communications, 301-347-1665, kcowan@naspweb.org.