Andrea Dailey Susan Soza: ‘My husband and I have always felt that you have to give in order to receive.’
Commitment to Generosity Alumna contributes to Longwood’s future with ‘time and treasure’ Susan Eddy Soza ’62 is known for her smile. It’s an outward sign of the generosity that has become her trademark—generosity that was engendered in her as a child and then grew as she and her late husband, Will, built a successful company in northern Virginia. “My husband and I have always felt that you have to give in order to receive,” said the Longwood alumna. “We both came from families who always put an emphasis on giving back to people and the community, and it was a natural part of our lifestyle.” After she graduated from Longwood, Soza,
a native of Winchester, began teaching elementary school while Will worked as a CPA. “ In those days, we gave our time because that was what we had,” she said with a chuckle. But you never know where life will take you. “ We didn’t imagine that we would be so fortunate to be able to give as much as we have.” The company Will Soza started in 1969 eventually grew into one of the largest Hispanic-owned government contractors in Virginia. The company was sold to Perot Systems Corp. in 2003. Soza has given $500,000 to the Norman H. and Elsie Stossel Upchurch University Center,
the top priority among building projects in Longwood’s current comprehensive campaign. She has also funded the William and Susan Soza Scholarship Fund, which goes to students committed to teaching elementary school. And she has contributed to the Longwood Fund, an unrestricted fund that supports the university’s greatest needs. “Susan is the epitome of a citizen leader,” said Bryan Rowland, vice president for university advancement. “She is compassionate, optimistic and fully invested in the students and faculty of her alma mater.” Her altruism doesn’t stop at giving money to Longwood. Soza has joined Franklin Grant, associate vice president for university advancement, on the road to encourage other alumni to support the university. She was instrumental in securing the largest-ever commitment to the university and other major donations. “Susan is a perfect example of how not only can you be supportive of Longwood by giving of your treasure but also by giving of your time,” said Grant. “It’s very satisfying to work with an alumna who cares so deeply about the future of the university and wants to help shape it for generations to come.” For Soza, however, the benefits go beyond helping her alma mater. “I love to get together with fellow alumni and talk about Longwood,” she said. “There’s a kindred spirit that connects all of us. We can sit and talk and laugh about our time on campus.” The campus has changed dramatically in the 50 years since Soza graduated. “When I was a freshman,” she remembers, “I was tucked away in a little corner of Ruffner, and the group of us who were there together bonded and became inseparable. I felt like the luckiest person on campus when they opened Wheeler Hall my junior year and I was able to live there. It was brand-new and the height of luxury for a 19-year-old.” As Longwood has grown, Soza has taken an active role in shaping its future. A two-term member of the Board of Visitors, Soza was originally appointed in 2004 by Gov. Mark Warner and re-appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine. “I think this university is moving forward in a very positive way,” she said. “I love Longwood and am pleased to be a part of its future growth.” “Longwood doesn’t have many alumni with the same kind of loyalty and commitment to the school as she does,” said Dr. Helen Warriner-Burke ’56, a member of the Board of Visitors during Soza’s term. “She is a fine person of solid integrity with a genuine smile that you can’t miss.”—Matthew McWilliams
SPRING 2013 I 11