Susan Wills is an outstanding business manager for the School of Education, an excellent role model and mentor for staff members and student workers, and widely respected among peers, said M Cecil Smith, dean of the school.
“With 25 years of experience, she is the ‘dean’ of business managers at SIU Carbondale – highly skilled, with deep knowledge of budgeting, and a critical understanding of university policies, and she is a trusted adviser to the dean,” Smith said.
Get to know Susan Wills
Name: Susan Wills
Department and job title: School of Education, business manager II
Years at SIU Carbondale: More than 27
Give us the elevator pitch for your job.
As business manager, I am responsible for handling and/or supervising the human resource, payroll, accounting and purchasing functions of our school operations.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My job is demanding and very busy. I enjoy the high volume and challenges that come with the work. I also love problem solving. It is very rewarding to find solutions and improve organizations. I definitely believe my strengths are improving processes and procedures as a manager.
Why did you choose SIU?
Honestly, I think SIU chose me. I came to SIU as a student, studying special education as an undergraduate. I married my husband in 1993 after he graduated from SIU. At that time, I was a full-time student and worked at Human Resources (HR) as a student employee. Opportunities soon opened there for full-time employment, and I loved the work and training that I was doing there. So when I was asked to apply, I did. Before too long, my husband and I decided to have a child, and my career advanced and I was promoted at HR. I later moved to the College of Education and Human Services and was promoted several times there as well. I loved my job, co-workers, and SIU! I chose SIU after it chose me, and I have never looked back. It has been a great career! I’m nearing retirement this year, toward the end of 2021, and I am so grateful to SIU and all my memorable years here.
When I was a child, I wanted to be ___ when I grew up.
I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. I’m not exactly sure why that was a dream of mine. It could have been because I always think I’m right about everything (or so I’m told). Being a lawyer would have suited my personality.
The world needs to …
The world needs to foster individual responsibility. It’s a simple sentence but one I have always tried to foster myself. I think everyone is accountable for their own successes and failures.
