Retirees Association

DBJ: DBJ selects Sue Edwards as second-ever Jane Haley Award honoree

Sue Edwards speaks at commencement

Excerpt from the Dayton Business Journal

The Dayton Business Journal has named the winner for its annual DBJ Jane Haley Award for Determination, Perseverance and Achievement.

This year’s honoree is Susan Edwards, president of Wright State University.

The award shines a light on a female business person who has shown perseverance and determination in overcoming challenges and recognizes the legacy of Jane Haley, one of the Dayton region’s most successful business leaders. Haley is the former president and CEO of Gosiger Inc., a family-owned and operated machine tool distributor and manufacturing solutions provider headquartered in Dayton.

The inaugural winner last year was Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders, CEO of the internationally-acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Edwards is the eighth president of Wright State and has led it through a challenging period overcoming many pitfalls. This includes the global pandemic, funding shortages, as well as overcoming breast cancer shortly into her stay at the university.

“Through it all she did not allow her personal health situation to stop her or her resolve for supporting the students at Wright State,” according to a nomination. “The Wright State student body responded. They rallied around Sue because authenticity is genuine and a trait easily seen by all. Our students knew firsthand of her never ending passion for their success and her drive to serve the campus community.”