Susan Thornell

Sister Susan Thornell, SNDdeN grew up in Brighton, Massachusetts, surrounded by faith, education and the influence of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. From kindergarten through high school, she was taught by the Sisters, and her love for learning was deeply nurtured at home by her mother, a teacher.   

“It was a natural calling for me,” she recalls. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I loved watching how happy the Sisters who taught me were.”  

As a young woman discerning her vocation, she was inspired by the joy and commitment of her teachers. Over time, her belief in St. Julie’s words, “Education is the greatest work on earth,” only grew stronger.  

Sister Susan began her teaching ministry with a sixth-grade classroom. That Christmas, she remembers, her students performed a musical written by one student’s father who was a music professor. “Looking back at the time and effort we put into the play, I marvel at the energy I had!” she laughs. “We were a success, and we thought Broadway was our next stop.”  

Throughout her career, Sister Susan taught at St. Charles School in Woburn, Bishop Fenwick High School, Marian Court College, Mother Caroline Academy and Emmanuel College where she currently serves as the associate dean of academic advising. Each community shaped her journey, but her nine years at Mother Caroline Academy, an inner-city middle school for underserved girls, remain among her most treasured experiences.   

“I prepared eighth grade young women for scholarship opportunities at some of the best private and boarding schools in New England and mentored them through their high school years,” Sister Susan says. “Along with the scholarships, all of us at Mother Caroline Academy provided them with the confidence to feel ready for the challenges of top schools. Many now have master’s degrees and some are in PhD programs.”  

Looking back on her Jubilee, Sister Susan expresses gratitude for the people she has worked alongside. “Teaching takes a special kind of person,” she says. “I’m fortunate to have met devoted women and men who were dedicated to the Notre Dame educational mission.”  

Her advice for anyone discerning a vocation is simple and heartfelt: “Follow your heart, and if the desire to be part of a religious community is there, you will be led and find peace and happiness.” 

Updated in 2025