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The UCDA Board of Directors and I would like to share with you that Susan Matherne will step down from her roles with UCDA and the UCDA Foundation, effective August 15, 2025. Susan joined UCDA as executive director during a time of transition and uncertainty, not only for our organization but in the world of higher ed, and has worked diligently to ensure we are well-positioned for the future. We thank her for her service and commitment to UCDA and wish her well as she begins her next chapter.

UCDA Board President Katharine McCann will temporarily step down and assume the role of interim executive director as appointed by the board. Additionally, Vice President Ryan Sprowl will assume the role of president.

A national search for the next executive director of UCDA will commence in the fall and details will be shared with members in the coming weeks.

Susan has written a personal statement reflecting on her time with UCDA. If you'd like to share your own message with her, email susan@ucda.com.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or any of our board members.

Sincerely,
Katharine McCann
President, UCDA Board of Directors

Letter from UCDA Executive Director Susan Matherne:

Dear UCDA Members and Friends, 

I am writing to share with you that I will be stepping down as Executive Director of UCDA, effective August 15, 2025. It has been a great honor to provide direction and leadership for the past 18 months. I have truly enjoyed my time in this role, and I will always treasure the memories of my time with you. Being the sole staff member was not an easy undertaking, but I dedicated myself fully and earnestly to leading the association and serving its members. I am proud of the positive impact made and the work accomplished in collaboration with the board of directors and other members. 

UCDA continues its mission of serving as the professional association for education designers and design educators. We’ve made enormous strides in solidifying the foundation of the association by creating a strategic plan for growth, expansion, revitalization, and success, focusing on several key areas aimed at directly benefiting our members. I’d like to share some of the highlights with you: 

UCDA Board of Directors
We expanded the number of directors on the board, created defined roles, and adjusted term lengths and requirements. Dedicated sponsorship, membership, programming, communications, and education directors, as well as an executive committee secretary role, have allowed us to facilitate enhanced support and contribution in key areas. These changes have made the board more efficient and created new opportunities to develop and enhance professional experience in leadership roles. 

Member engagement
We broadened and deepened our member engagement and experience in several ways, such as the Member of the Month and new member-only resources and benefits. We enhanced member connections, establishing new opportunities to contribute and be involved more substantively as committee members, program coordinators, initiative task force leaders, and task force members. Our task forces are integral to a broader initiative focused on delivering thought leadership and best practices to our members, addressing diverse topics and issues relevant to our industry and profession. New and renewing professional membership is growing and we’ve nearly doubled our design educator and student memberships. 

Events and Programming
We focused our collective energy and strategic planning to enhance and expand UCDA events and programs, such as the UCDA Design Awards. In 2024, we received more than 950 entries from institutions across North America, many of whom were new participants. 

The 2024 UCDA Design Conference in Indianapolis was a great success on many levels — attendance, presentations on professional growth and creativity, networking with members and sponsors, just to name a few. We deepened and expanded partnerships with sponsors through new relationships, enhanced opportunities, and strategic partnerships. 

Both the 2024 and 2025 Creative Summits were highly successful, as were the 2024 and 2025 Design Education Summits. DES 2025 celebrated new highs in attendance, presentation acceptance, the student poster competition, and engagement from those in our education community who had never before attended and/or presented at the summit. 

Event chairpersons and committees continued to be involved at a high level with event planning and execution. We relaunched webinars and the UCDA Book Club. We developed a program to revitalize the UCDA Journal, with new guest contributors from the design and design-adjacent professional communities as part of our goal of providing thought leadership, inspiration, and resources. 

Financial stability
As with any business, for a member association to function and prosper, it must be financially healthy. I am proud to report to the membership that through diligent stewardship of revenue streams and management of finances, and in partnership with the board, we have strengthened the association’s financial strength and stability during my tenure. 

These are just some of the many objectives that have been accomplished. 

As my time as executive director comes to a close, I pass the association on in a position of strength and poised for a successful future. I want to thank the UCDA and UCDA Foundation Board members for their service, collaboration, and partnership. I want to emphasize again what a pleasure and honor it has been to provide leadership and direction for UCDA. As a designer and design educator, I have a special appreciation, understanding, and reverence for this organization’s values and mission. I’ve made wonderful friends and associates during my time and will treasure these relationships. UCDA will continue to have my support in the future, and I wish for continued growth and prosperity. I also wish all of you, our UCDA members and friends, continued success and all the best in the years to come. 

Sincerely, 

Susan Matherne 
Executive Director, UCDA

If you have questions regarding the leadership transition or details regarding the search process for the next UCDA Executive Director, contact info@ucda.com.