Suzanne’s interest in improving children’s education flows from her B.A. degree in Education.  She continued to teach children through programs in Connecticut and Tanzania.  Suzanne has been a weekly, classroom volunteer at Argonne Elementary School in San Francisco, since 2005.  Her passion for the well-being and educational opportunities of the Nkomo School learners is a major force behind the successful completion of this film project.

Suzanne’s connection and financial support for Nkomo Primary School began in 2002 and includes providing educational supplies, solar study lights, uniforms - so needy learners may continue on to high school, and computer education for both teachers and students.  In addition, she collaborates with five Argonne teachers, engaging their students with the needs and challenges of the Nkomo students through an annual “Read-A-Thon” that has provided over $17,000 to build classrooms and purchase educational supplies at Nkomo School. She has facilitated a pen pal letter exchange between Argonne students and Nkomo learners since 2006.

In 2000, she created the Suzanne Cross Scholarship, East Haven High School, CT, which awarded $5,000 annually to graduates for higher education.

Ms. Cross has been a consultant to the University of California, Office of the President (UCOP), since July 2003, providing technical advisory on planned giving trusts to the finance, development, and legal departments.  She formerly held several management positions at State Street Global Advisors.  She is currently a Board Member of Unite to Light, which distributes solar reading lights worldwide to those without electricity, and was formerly on the boards of La Casa de las Madres, CORO Northern CA, and Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  Ms. Cross holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of Connecticut.