Susan Zimet joined the Hunger Action Network of New York in February 2015 as their Executive Director. An experienced politician with deep connections in Albany and across the state, Susan is thrilled to bring her passion and experience to a cause that she believes deeply in – eradicating hunger. As the Executive Director, Susan works with private and governmental agencies to increase funding for food banks, emergency food providers, and to help lift people out of poverty.
Susan is also the Founder and President of 2020: Project Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, celebrating, and promoting the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote. In partnership with the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, the Gage Home and the AAUW, 2020: Project Women was founded in 2008.
Susan is also authoring a book for young adults based on the history of the suffrage movement, scheduled to be published by Viking Penguin Random House in 2018.
Prior to this, Susan held elected office, representing New Paltz as either its Town Supervisor or Ulster County Legislature from 1996 through 2015. During this time, Susan became a leading spokesperson and advocate for the issues she believes in, including women’s rights, property tax reform, protecting the environment and opposing hydro-fracking. In fact, in 2013, Susan helped found an organization called Frack Action, and was an executive producer on a series of commercials lobbying against the dangerous practice, starring high-powered actors Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo.
Susan also is the co-author of The Great Cover Up: A Condom Compendium, the first book written on the subject of safe sex during the HIV and AIDS epidemic, published in 1989. During this time, she also served as an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz, teaching Advertising and Marketing courses, while also overseeing the colleges international marketing internship program.
Prior to that, Susan served as VP, Associate Media Director at Grey Advertising, overseeing many blue chip clients including General Foods and Timex.
Susan is a mother of two and lives with her husband, Steve.