Career Intelligence Officer Receives Foxcroft’s Distinguished 女校友 Award

女校友 Council President Sheldon Gerry Withers ’61, together with Council members Karen Lilly ’84 and Barkley Boutell Henning '73, 提出了与, 华盛顿的居民, D.C., 拿着这个奖, citing her illustrious career working in intelligence at the National Security Agency and U.S. 国务院, as well as her long and varied service to Foxcroft and involvement in various non-profits as a volunteer.

After Foxcroft, Kuser attended Bryn Mawr College, graduating with a Chemistry degree in 1953. 她去国安局工作了, which had been established less than a year earlier, 作为密码学语言学家. “They asked me if I was good at crossword puzzle,” recounts Kuser with a smile, 当我说是的时候, 他们雇用了我.” It was the midst of the Cold War and Sukie helped to collect and analyze communications intelligence information, cracking codes and learning Arabic along the way.

In 1953, Kuser moved to the 国务院, where she would spend the next 28 years. She continued in intelligence, working in resources and representing the department on various interagency committees. 经常, she was the only professional woman at the table and had to stand up for State’s interests, which were frequently different from those of the CIA and military.

Kuser studied national security affairs at the National War College in 1977 -- one of just seven women in a sea of men -- and eventually rose to be head of the U.S. 国务院’s Intelligence Reporting Division. 自1986年退休以来, she has continued as a part-time consultant and a senior reviewer of classified documents at the NSA.

Kuser’s service to Foxcroft has also been extensive. She helped create one of the first career panels for students, organized the School’s first phonathon, and established a scholarship for daughters of foreign service officers. 19年来, 从1988年开始, she served on the Board of Trustees, including several years as Vice President. She has been on numerous committees, including Buildings and Grounds, 发展, 操舵, 有计划的捐赠, and she continues as a key member of the Investment Committee even now. In 1999, Kuser received the Anne Kane McGuire ’52 杰出的服务 Award from Foxcroft Board of Trustees, 他们的最高荣誉.

Kuser has been served on many other boards and councils over the years, often related to her passion for gardening and nature or her abiding interest in international relations. Currently she sits on the boards of both the Friends of the National Arboretum and the Foreign Policy Discussion Group of Washington, D.C. She is a Fellow and serves on several committees of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Her past service includes the Foreign Student Service Council, World Affairs Council, D.C., Institute of World Politics, McKee Botanical Garden, St. Johns Community Services, Blue Hill Library, and Georgetown Symphony.

Foxcroft’s 杰出校友奖 recognizes graduates who have been pioneers and/or made outstanding contributions in their fields; received local or national recognition of achievement; demonstrated dedication and interest in civic affairs; and has been a role model. Previous recipients include the late Ambassador to St. James Court Anne Legendre Armstrong ’45, anthropologist Dr. 安娜C. 罗斯福64年, longtime congresswoman Millicent Hammond Fenwick, and White House photographer Diana Hardin Walker ’59.