Susan L. Parish is an American social worker, researcher and academic administrator who has served as the 13th president of Mercy University since July 1, 2023.
Under her leadership, the College of Health Professions at Virginia Commonwealth University experienced significant increases in graduate and undergraduate enrollment, and research funding.
Additionally, the college launched an innovative liberal arts undergraduate degree in Health Services in 2020 and developed new certificate programs and graduate concentrations.
[10] She began her academic career as an assistant professor of social work at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Over the course of her career, Parish has been a prolific researcher primarily investigating the health and well-being of children and adults with disabilities and their caregiving families.