Final Word

College professors made some of the most profound impacts in Sue Sundar’s life, inspiring her to become a professor herself. Now, as director of the Operations and Supply Chain program at the David Eccles School of Business, she is working hard to follow their example and make an impact on her students as well.

The best way to do that, in her opinion, is to help students build confidence in the strengths and skills they already have – and then help them apply that confidence to developing the new strengths and skills they need.

“I have taught hundreds of students, and it is that confidence that makes a huge difference in a student’s life,” Sundar said. “They have everything they need to be happy and successful, but they don’t always realize that. If we professors can make an impact on students, if we can help them realize their true potential and go in the direction they want to, even a little nudge helps more than we realize.”

Sundar has an open-door policy and prides herself on being available to any student who might need a little validation or encouragement. She has started several programs and recurring events in her department aimed at helping students build the confidence, experience, and networks they need, including a Networking with the Professionals fair, an alumni speaker series, and a peer support group called Nari Shakti, which is Sanskrit and translates to women of strength. These efforts matter, she said, even if the results aren’t obvious right away.

To remind her of that, Sundar keeps in her office a box of cards she has received from students over the years, thanking her for an impact she made on their lives without even knowing it.

“It’s a humbling experience to see we are in a profession where we can make students’ lives better. That’s our agenda,” Sundar said. “It’s always the first step that stops them. But if we can help them take that first step, that first plunge, they can fly.” ■