Meet the leadership at YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts [formerly YWCA North Shore Rape Crisis Center]

Executive Director

Susan Staples
Prior to becoming Executive Director, Susan had been the YWCA’s Director of Program Operations since 2014. She was instrumental in leading the agency through a period of significant changes, including a merger with YWCA Haverhill, reopening the YWCA Emergency Shelter, renovating and reopening the YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts Residence [Haverhill site], and assuming operations of the North Shore Rape Crisis Center in Lynn, now YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts [Lynn site]. Susan supervised residential program directors and other senior staff; worked closely with the Director of Finance on contract compliance and reporting, and budget forecasting and management; and worked with the Director of Development to obtain various grants and to procure state contracts.  With 25 years in the field, Susan is a recognized leader in Massachusetts in domestic violence and sexual assault services (DV/SA) and advocacy.  Her responsibilities as Director of Program Operations included overseeing all YWCA DV/SA programs in Lawrence, Haverhill and Lynn, including residential programs. She also oversaw all YWCA Youth and Family Services operations, which includes year-round childcare at two sites in Lawrence and one in Haverhill, and a summer day camp. Susan was also responsible for implementing a system to evaluate the skill, experience and professional development needs of all staff.  Prior to her tenure at the YW, Susan moved into the nonprofit sector in 1992, and worked at HAWK for over a decade.  She has an undergraduate degree from Bridgewater State University, and a Master’s in Psychology and Counseling from Cambridge College.