Science Foundation Arizona Names New Director of the Arizona STEM Network

Science Foundation Arizona has announced that Suzanne Kinney has been named director of the Arizona STEM Network.

Kinney brings 16 years of experience in public policy and business. As director of the Arizona STEM Network, she will be responsible for leading a statewide collaboration of businesses, educators and philanthropy.  She will also work with the government’s common agenda to help more students graduate and be prepared to succeed in the global marketplace.

“We look forward to Suzanne’s leadership and development of the Arizona STEM Network,” said William Harris, CEO and president of SFAz. “Her experience, education and demonstrated ability to build strong, working relationships with industry will enable her to continue the momentum we have built this past year and take the network to a new level statewide.”

Prior to joining SFAz, Kinney was senior vice president for public policy at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she managed public policy activities, recruited new members, communicated with the media and made presentations to civic organizations. She served as editor of the chamber’s annual business agenda, a leading resource for the business community’s legislative priorities. Kinney played a leading role in managing the chamber’s bold education and workforce development initiatives. Additionally, Suzanne was the founder and executive director of the Arizona Chamber Foundation, a research-based public policy think-tank.

Previously, Suzanne was a senior management research analyst at Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University. In this capacity, she researched, analyzed and reported on Arizona public policy issues such as workforce development, education, governance and economic development. Earlier in her career, Suzanne worked as a management consultant based out of Chicago for Diamond Technology Consultants (now a PriceWaterhouse Coopers company).

Kinney received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She also received a Master of Arts from the Division of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago.