Cheers to 20 Years: Susan Carroll retires after two decades of service

Written by Jonathan Abels, Catherine Admay and Carol Allen

Originally published in the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center Spring 2025 Newsletter

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More than a year ago, Susan Carroll began to talk about life after serving as the Managing Director of the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center. At the time, she was completing a certificate to assist asylum seekers with a mind to work with those who needed assistance navigating the U.S. immigration maze. After two decades of leading our Center, Susan retires this summer. 

Susan was hired in the summer of 2005 just in time to welcome the 4^th cohort of Duke and UNC Peace Fellows. At that time, the two universities had a five-year agreement with Rotary International (RI), and we had no idea if that agreement would be renewed or of the duration of RI’s commitment and ability to fund scholarships for graduate study in peace building over the long term. Working with the co-directors, Francis Lethem (Duke) and Jim Peacock (UNC), Susan oversaw the day-to-day management of the center. She developed new programming, updated the curriculum, created partnerships with outside agencies for internships (and jobs), expanded the program to new schools and departments at UNC, and built a community for the fellows. The center’s first Rotary host area coordinator, Carol Allen, reflected on those early years stating, “I served on the center’s advisory board and quickly recognized that Susan had the knowledge and drive to lead the Duke-UNC Center forward and develop it into Rotary’s premier partner university in its peacebuilding mission.” 

Over the years, Susan worked with a series of very capable assistants at UNC to build the website, launch a certificate program, host major events, lead annual trips to Washington D.C., move to new offices, and provide more comprehensive support to the fellows. On Francis’ and Jim’s retirement, Susan was promoted to Managing Director of the center and became the primary point of contact with RI, Duke, and UNC leadership. Now firmly situated in the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs (UNC) and the Duke Center for International Development (Duke), the Rotary Peace Center continues to operate on two campuses as envisioned in the initial design of our 1999 proposal. Under Susan’s tenure, Rotary has renewed our partnership seven times without interruption, and 22 cohorts – 194 fellows from 68 countries – have graduated. 

As in any program, the center has experienced highs and lows over the years, but overall, it is highly successful and much can be attributed to Susan’s leadership, management, commitment, and passion to create and sustain the center’s mission. Susan is ever the innovator.  When COVID required us to pivot to an online conference, we learned a large reservoir of Rotarians and others around the world would happily attend virtually.  Not wanting to lose this audience, Susan raised money to enable us to offer a hybrid conference. Her personal care and problem-solving capabilities are legendary. Susan’s care for each cohort, each fellow, has been experienced by so many that alumni fondly speak about their time in the program and of Susan’s contributions. At the conference this year Susan received a book of grateful affirmations with entries from Classes 4 through 23. It is filled with accolades and expressions of gratitude such as, “You are, in many ways, the heart of the Center—radiating warmth, love, wisdom, and steadfast guidance that supports us all.” And another notes, “You not only created opportunities for us to grow—both professionally and personally—but also ensured our families felt welcomed and cared for. This caring approach, paired with your steadfast commitment to our well-being, truly sets your leadership apart.” 

We understand Susan’s immediate next chapter will include traveling more and seeing her children and friends who are scattered across the U.S. and abroad.  Unsurprisingly, so many of those friends are Peace Fellow alumni! She recently joined the Rotary eClub co-facilitated by our alumni. Even as Susan takes off one Rotary hat, she dons another and lives by its motto “Service before Self.” 

As she prepares for her next adventure, we are profoundly grateful for all Susan has contributed to the success of this center and to our alums. She leaves behind a center that is well-run, respected, and teeming with energy and potential.