Suzanne Connor is the senior program officer for arts and culture at The Chicago Community Trust, where she is responsible for grant review in the broad focus areas of artistic excellence, audience development, arts learning, and capacity building. She also oversees the Arts Engagement Exchange, designed to share knowledge and promote best practices in audience engagement in the arts.
Prior to joining the Trust, she spent five years as the director of programs and grants at the Arts & Business Council of Chicago. In this role, she provided training and support to over 350 arts and cultural organizations in key management areas, such as board governance, audience development, and income generation. During the 1990s, Connor served two terms as an elected official in northern Michigan. She has served on a variety of nonprofit boards, including the City of Chicago Community Development Block Grant Advisory Council, the League of Women Voters, and Broadway Armory Park. She has been honored by Mayor Richard M. Daley and Police Superintendent Terry Hilliard for her work in the North Lawndale community, highlighting the connection between public art and public safety. Connor began her professional career in her native New York City where she worked for Catholic Charities overseeing grants for senior services. Connor has a BA in sociology from St. Bonaventure University and an MA from New York University.
