Suri Duitch 
Dean, School of Professional Advancement | Tulane University
New Orleans, LA, UNITED STATES
Suri Duitch's research interests focus on urban education, education policy, and city and state government
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Biography
Suri Duitch is dean of the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement. Dr. Duitch also holds the additional title of vice president for academic innovation.
She joined Tulane from the City University of New York, the nation’s largest urban public university system, where she was an administrator from 2004 to 2016. At CUNY, she was University Dean for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, as well as the deputy to the senior university dean for academic affairs. Her portfolio there included continuing education, workforce development, adult literacy and language courses, programs for students on public assistance, several student employment initiatives and special projects, such as CUNY’s Early Childhood Professional Development Institute as well as its Creative Arts Team.
Prior to joining CUNY, she held public policy and program oversight positions in New York City government agencies, and worked with nonprofits and private foundations to conduct research and advocate for public policy proposals in areas such as the arts and economic development, and children’s health and mental health services.
She began her career as a public policy advocate – working in the Manhattan Borough President’s Office on welfare reform policy, supporting the development of public policy in human services, and developing initiatives to serve children with severe mental health needs in New York City and state. She then moved on to work with a range of nonprofits and private foundations on a consultant basis, with a particular focus on the role of the arts in spurring local economic development. While in New York City government, she oversaw workforce development policies affecting unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers.
Dr. Duitch holds a B.A. in English literature from Columbia College, Columbia University, an M.S.W. in community organizing from Hunter College–CUNY, and a Ph.D. in urban education from the CUNY Graduate Center.
She lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Workforce Developmen
City and State Government
Urban Education
Education Policy
Policy and Politics
Education (3)
CUNY Graduate Center: Ph.D., Urban Education 2009
Hunter College–CUNY: M.S.W., Community Organizing 1995
Columbia University: B.A., English 1991
Links (1)
Media Appearances (4)
Delgado, Tulane sign student transfer agreement
New Orleans City Business online
2019-02-01
“The agreement paves the way for Delgado graduates to earn four-year degrees in nine high-demand fields, including digital design and applied computing,” said Suri Duitch, dean of Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement.
Report: Mississippi city wants $10M after Tulane suddenly closes satellite campus
The New Orleans Advocate online
2017-09-14
Tulane announced in January it would close the campus, notifying students via emails. University President Michael Fitts and the dean of continuing studies, Suri Duitch said the closure would allow Tulane's School of Continuing Studies "to focus more attention on its New Orleans and Gulf Coast campuses, and on online programs, where we believe there are great opportunities for our current and future students."
Tulane relaunches continuing studies as School of Professional Advancement
Nola.com online
2017-04-26
"When I accepted the job last summer, it was clear to me that, along with other significant steps we were taking to position the school for the future, changing the name was crucial," Duitch said. "I would like to thank President Fitts, Senior Vice president for Aademic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness Rick Matasar and everyone else involved for their assistance with this process. Over a four-month period, we consulted with a range of stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members."
Tulane campus closing in Madison
Clarion Ledger online
2017-01-06
An explanation for the decision was not provided in the email, but Fitts and Duitch stated the move would allow the School of Continuing Studies "to focus more attention on its New Orleans and Gulf Coast campuses, and on online programs, where we believe there are great opportunities for our current and future students."
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