Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service

The Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service is the college’s highest honor. It is presented to individuals who exemplify Susan Colgate Cleveland’s attributes, ensuring that her work, dedication and influence will be remembered by future generations.

Dr. Susan A. Reeves ’88

Chief Nursing Executive; Executive Vice President for Research and Education
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health System

Since 2003, Dr. Reeves has worked at and with Colby-Sawyer to build programs that would distinguish her alma mater’s healthcare majors and strengthen its 40-year partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH).

With Dr. Reeves simultaneously holding the roles of inaugural dean of Colby-Sawyer’s School of Nursing and Health Professions and associate academic dean for D-H Partnerships, Colby-Sawyer developed the public health program and an online R.N. to B.S. in nursing program as well as launched its first graduate program, a master of science in nursing.

In 2016, then Governor Maggie Hassan recognized Dr. Reeves’s expertise by appointing her to the Governor’s Commission on Health Care Workforce. A year later, Dr. Reeves was named Chief Nursing Executive for D-HH. Her charge to set the strategic direction for nursing across the system and for creating alignment for nursing practice across all D-HH entities further formalized its connection to the college. For the past three years, Colby-Sawyer’s graduating seniors in the nursing program have achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX on their first attempt and the program is ranked number one in the state.

Reeves received her diploma in nursing from Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. She holds a B.S. in nursing from Colby-Sawyer, an M.S. in nursing administration from the University of New Hampshire and an Ed.D. from the University of Vermont. She is a resident of New London, N.H.