Spartan Women in Philanthropy: Susan Goldberg, ’84

WHO: Susan Goldberg, ’84, Former Editor in Chief, National Geographic; Editorial Director, National Geographic Partners

WHERE: Washington, D.C.

WHAT: Created an endowment to provide financial support for journalism internships

Susan Goldberg is a trailblazer in the world of journalism. She is the first woman to occupy the editor in chief’s office at National Geographic Magazine, where she also served as editorial director for the company, putting her in charge of all print and digital journalism. It was Susan’s time as a student reporter for The State News and an internship with a Seattle-area newspaper after her junior year, that kick-started a career that has taken her to newsrooms and publications around the country, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the San Jose Mercury News—she was the first woman to run the newsroom at both—as well as Bloomberg News, USA Today and metro dailies in Seattle and Detroit.

With cash and planned gifts to the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Susan established the Susan B. Goldberg Journalism Internship Award, which is already making a difference for student-journalists who might not otherwise be able to pursue the same kind of internships—often unpaid—that gave Susan her start in the field.

Contact MSU Office of Gift Planning at 800-232-4678 | 517-884-1000 and giftplan@msu.edu to learn how you can make a difference for future Spartans.