Susan Wilkes

Susan Brock Wilkes, Ph.D., is the founder and managing partner of Wilkes Consulting, a leadership development firm specializing in nonprofit organizations. Susan is an organizational psychologist with extensive experience in executive coaching, leadership and team dynamics, board governance, and strategic planning. Currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Richmond, she received the 2022 Innovations in Teaching Award.

Susan has been voted as Instructor of the Year for Richmond, Virginia’s Nonprofit Learning Point and served for 15 years as the lead faculty for its successful Emerging Nonprofit Leaders Program. A co-creator of a specialized assessment coaching process for fund development professionals, Susan is also the author of four experiential earning tools published in the Pfeiffer Annuals. Her community engagement is extensive, including service as Board Chair for Health Brigade, as a Board Member for the Innerwork Center, and on the founding leadership team for Impact 100 women’s philanthropy program.

Susan’s latest publication is “Strengthening the Next Generation: A Multi-faceted Program to Develop Leadership Capacity in Emerging Nonprofit Leaders” in the Journal of Nonprofit Management and Leadership. A Phi Kappa Phi graduate of the doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University, Susan also holds an undergraduate degree in psychology, with distinction, and masters’ degree in counseling from the University of Virginia. Susan is a certified teacher in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self Compassion. Her most recent certification is as a Dare to Lead facilitator with the Brene’ Brown Education and Research Group.