06/01/2026
We were so honored to have Susan Phalen join us today.
Susan built a remarkable career in strategic communications, serving over 22 years at the U.S. State Department, the White House, and on Capitol Hill.
She has counseled Cabinet Secretaries, Members of Congress, and U.S. Ambassadors. Susan completed nine tours in Baghdad’s Green Zone and two deployments in Afghanistan.
Yet amid the high-stakes work of war zones, Susan never lost sight of the human impact—especially on the youngest and most vulnerable. As director of the Global Outreach Team at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, she led initiatives like ‘Bunnies for Baghdad,’ coordinating the delivery of donated stuffed animals and comfort items to wounded and orphaned children receiving treatment at a military hospital in the Green Zone.
Susan’s work exemplifies how volunteerism and outreach can bridge divides, restore dignity, and remind us of our shared humanity—even in the hardest places.
Thank you to our newest member, Bill Boyll for lining this up!!
