SUSAN M. HYATT
Community Leader

Susan Hyatt and her husband Joel co-founded Hyatt Legal Services in Cleveland in 1977. They helped to revolutionize the legal services' delivery system by making legal care affordable and accessible to middle and lower-income families nationwide. Hyatt Legal Services has served more people than any other law firm in the country. Previously, Susan was a special education teacher in the Cincinnati public school system. She also served as a senior advisor to United States Senator Howard Metzenbaum during his 18 years in office.

Susan has been involved in numerous civic and philanthropic activities. She recently completed nine years on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice America in Washington, D.C. and founded a yearly fundraiser on the Peninsula for reproductive rights. She served three successive terms on the board of Children's Health Council in Palo Alto. She also served as the chair of the public interest committee of the Peninsula for Jewish Family and Children's Services in Silicon Valley. Susan serves on the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Art Committee.

Prior to moving to California, Susan chaired the Advisory committee of Case Western Reserve University School of Law and served on the boards of the Child Welfare League of America in Washington, D.C., and in Cleveland on the boards of Womenspace, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the Jewish Community Federation, and Center for Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Susan is also the recipient of the Deborah Award from the American Jewish Congress, and the President's Award from Womenspace.