A closer look into the life and career of Susan Cavanaugh, Marketing Instructor in the School of Business & Communication at Mount St. Joseph University.
Susan Cavanaugh, MBA, is a Marketing Instructor in the School of Business & Communication at Mount St. Joseph University. She brings more than 30 years of marketing experience, a passion for lifelong learning, and a deep connection to the Cincinnati community. A first-generation “Westsider” raised in Delhi, Susan spent three decades building her expertise at Procter & Gamble before transitioning into higher education. Since joining the Mount in 2025, she has embraced the opportunity to share her industry knowledge, connect students with real-world experiences, and help develop the next generation of business professionals. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on FC Cincinnati, and setting new personal challenges that reflect her goal-oriented spirit.
Early Life & Career:
Raised in the heart of Delhi, Ohio, Susan Cavanaugh has spent most of her life just a mile from Mount St. Joseph University. Her parents relocated to Cincinnati from Oneida, Tennessee, giving Susan a connection to both her Southern roots and the Westside community she has always called home.
Her educational journey began at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Psychology. She continued her education at Xavier University, earning an MBA with a concentration in marketing. Later, as she explored a transition from the corporate world into education, she earned an alternative teaching license in Business through The Ohio State University Pedagogical Institute.
Susan Cavanaugh's professional career began with a variety of temporary assignments through Kelly Temporary Services, including work as a research assistant for a PTSD study and as an office manager at a psychiatric practice at the University of Cincinnati. One of those opportunities eventually led to a position as the basketball secretary at Xavier University, where she experienced the excitement of being part of the university during the basketball team's run to the Sweet Sixteen.
As a Cincinnati native with a passion for marketing, Susan always dreamed of working for Procter & Gamble—a dream that became reality in 1994 when she joined the company's Snacks & Beverage organization. Over the next 30 years, she built extensive marketing expertise across a diverse portfolio of well-known brands, including Crisco, Folgers, Millstone, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences and Hair Biology. Her work spanned brand management, direct marketing and media strategy, with one of her favorite accomplishments being the development of a multibrand marketing plan during the 2014 World Cup that helped increase U.S. Hispanic market share by 8%.
Following her retirement from P&G, Susan began her second act through fractional consulting and purposeful work, including coaching cross country at Seton High School. That next chapter ultimately led her to the classroom at the Mount.
Cincinnati & the Mount:
Although Susan is not a Mount alumna, the University has always held a special place in her heart. Her mother, who left school in 10th grade to work, later earned her GED and an associate degree at the Mount while Susan was also attending college. “The Mount gave my mother confidence and pride and helped her grow, even later in life, to become the amazing woman she is today,” Susan shared. Years later, the University would become an important part of Susan’s own professional journey. Following her retirement from Procter & Gamble, she began volunteering with the School of Business and Communication, conducting mock interviews for students in the MBA 4+1 program. That experience led to an opportunity to serve as a visiting professor of marketing in spring 2025 before joining the faculty as an instructor of marketing for the 2025–26 academic year. “The Mount has been my ‘safe landing’ space in this second act of my career,” she said. “It’s been so wonderful to be a part of this awesome community.”
As a marketing instructor at the Mount, Susan teaches the courses students need to complete a marketing major, guiding them from foundational concepts in Principles of Marketing to skill-building courses in Consumer Behavior, Market Research and Digital Marketing. She has also structured the curriculum to culminate in Marketing Management, an application-based course that allows students to put their knowledge into practice. Of all the courses she teaches, Consumer Behavior is her favorite. “A good marketer truly understands their consumer base,” she explained. Drawing on her professional experience, she has seen how identifying key consumer insights can drive brand growth, product development and marketing strategies. “This class is the combination of my love of both psychology and business,” she said, adding that students enjoy hands-on projects, including a “thrift fit” challenge that explores how people buy and dispose of products.
Beyond the classroom, Susan is passionate about creating meaningful connections between students and the local business community. She is currently working with several marketing students to establish an official Mount St. Joseph University chapter of the American Marketing Association, with plans to launch in spring 2027. She also prioritizes incorporating real-world business projects into her courses, giving students opportunities to apply their marketing knowledge while working with local organizations. Past class collaborations have included Western Wildlife Corridor, Meals on Wheels and MyFitness Suites. “My focus is in building real-world connections and identifying in-class opportunities with local business,” she shared.
Serving the Student Experience:
For Susan, one of the most rewarding moments in teaching is witnessing students experience an “aha” moment when a concept finally clicks. She enjoys seeing their transformation from simply completing assignments to becoming passionate and enthusiastic marketers. “That is the moment I know they are going to be successful,” she shared. From that point forward, her role is to guide and support their continued growth.
Susan considers investing in students' growth and success one of the most meaningful aspects of her role. “Investing in others is the greatest gift you can both give and receive,” she said. She values the opportunity to help students take their first steps toward becoming the business professionals they aspire to be and is equally impressed by the kindness and character they demonstrate beyond the classroom. “It’s kinda cheesy, but I love seeing them climbing higher and Reaching New Heights!”
Personal/Family Life:
Outside the classroom, Susan describes her personal life as “full of passion and abundant blessings.” She has been married to her husband, Jim, for 28 years, and together they have “three amazing daughters who are building their own careers while being great partners in life with their husbands and significant other.” With two daughters married and one wedding still to come, the family recently celebrated their middle daughter's wedding on October 2. Susan also loves spending time with her three grandchildren, saying, “We so enjoy watching them at gymnastics and especially soccer.” A self-described soccer family, they are avid FC Cincinnati fans, “traveling to at least one away game a year.”
Susan's high-energy, goal-oriented personality carries into her personal pursuits. “I am a high-energy, goal-oriented person,” she shared, explaining that her hobbies include setting an annual big goal. Past challenges have included “running 56 miles of running races in my 56th year” and hiking the 20-mile Mammoth Mile on her 58th birthday. For her 59th birthday, she took on an entirely different challenge, sharing that she “conquered early-stage breast cancer.” Her personal motto reflects her approach to life's obstacles: “Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth, tame the dragon and the gift is yours.” Looking ahead, she is ready for another year of challenges, declaring, “Here's to taming the dragon in my 60th year!” Susan also expressed her gratitude to the University community: “Thank you to the Mount family for your love and support and for making my second act the best!”
With more than 30 years of industry experience, a passion for marketing, and a deep commitment to student growth, Susan Cavanaugh brings a valuable real-world perspective to the School of Business & Communication at Mount St. Joseph University. From her accomplished career at Procter & Gamble to her second act as an educator, Susan's journey reflects the power of lifelong learning and investing in others. Her personal connection to the Mount, combined with her enthusiasm for helping students discover their potential, makes her a meaningful part of the University community. Through experiential learning, professional mentorship, and a genuine passion for seeing students succeed, she continues to help the next generation of business professionals reach new heights. Thank you, Susan, for sharing your experience, energy, and passion with the Mount family!
