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Susan Gaide
Professor Susan Gaide
susan.gaide@agsfaculty.indwes.edu

I am a marketing, branding and content strategist and writer with 42 years of experience working in both agency and corporate environments.  I started my own firm in 1999 (GaideCom, Inc.), through which I have clients in a wide array of industries, including music, book publishing and professional audio/video.  I also serve as Chief Brand Strategist for ChromeOrange Media (https://www.chromeorangemedia.com), which specializes in sonic brand storytelling to drive brand recognition and demand.  During the course of my career, I've also written articles and thought leadership content that has been published in Pro Sound News, Mix, Post, Rodale's Scuba Diving and Petersen's Photographic.  In addition, I've been published numerous times in Distance Education Report, Innovations, Marketeer and Spotlight on Business.

I earned my M.B.A. with honors from Adelphi University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Hofstra University.  I held the title of full professor at Five Towns College in New York from 2013 until January 2020 but taught and developed degree programs there starting in 1984. I joined the online faculty of Indiana Wesleyan University in 2001, where I was the subject matter expert for the redevelopment of ADM495 Seminar in Business in late 2021.  In 2009, I became an online course developer for University of California – Berkeley Extension, and in 2013 I became an online course developer and instructor for Reed College of Media at West Virginia University. I hold honorary faculty membership in Phi Sigma Eta for my excellence in business education and became certified in Applying the QM Rubric in April 2019.

My professional affiliations include the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), ASCAP and The New York State Business Group.  In addition, I have been listed in Marquis' Who's Who in the East, World Who's Who of Women, and Men and Women of Distinction.

My husband, Mark, and I have been married for 26-1/2 wonderful years.  He has been my personal gift from God. We have no children, but we have 12 adorable cats (all born to feral cat mommies in our backyard) and we enjoy spending time with my cousins' children, ages 25 - 33 and my best friend's boys (our spiritual grandchildren), ages 16, 14 and 11. On August 5, 2021, our family welcomed Frankie Michael into the world (my cousin Frank's grandson/first grandchild). We are active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amityville, Long Island, New York, where our new pastor just accepted our call. Thanks be to God! We were without a full-time pastor for over two years, so this was a fabulous, divine gift!

My “number one” hobby stems from what my original career goal was – music.  I am a classically trained pianist (I trained for 26 years, starting at the age of 4).  As I am quite small-statured (otherwise known as “petite” ), the repertoire of certain classical composers was beyond my reach (literally, the “reach” of the span of my hands).  As a result, at the age of 27, I turned my attention and talents to writing and producing popular music.   Since then, I have concentrated on Christian and Gospel music as my way of giving thanks to God for all that He has done for me.   

My husband and I enjoy cooking, and our gourmet kitchen is quite well-stocked with all the latest culinary gadgets!

Jesus Christ has been my personal savior since I was 6 years old.  He has saved me physically, mentally, and spiritually many times in my life, beginning with my near death from a kidney infection at the age of 2.  Later, at the age of 6, I was pinned at the bottom of a pool by a large child.  I said, “Jesus please help me – I cannot save myself.”  Suddenly, a figure, who I believe to have been my guardian angel, appeared and lifted me out of the water to safety.  It was then that I truly began to feel a bond between me and my Savior Jesus Christ. 

When my only brother was in the last stages of his cancer in 1998 and we had run out of desperate, mortal attempts to save his life, I turned my grief over to Jesus, saying, “Thy will be done.”  Steven passed away on February 27, 1999, cradled in the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, his Bible by his side. Since then, I have lost my father (2012), my mother (2016) and my mother-in-law (2017), all following very long and sad declines. One of my greatest sources of support during the last 12 years has been IWU. I work with and teach the best people at this special university! 

I believe that Jesus laughs with us, cries with us, grieves with us, and dies with us.  As a tribute to Steven, my parents, and our glorious Savior, I have written two songs -- “The Power of Prayer” and “Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord.”  

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.