Skip to main content
2026 Bridge Conference Main banner

Sister Susan Durkin, OSU

Executive Director
Women Religious Archives Collective

Sr. Susan Durkin has been an Ursuline Sister of Cleveland for 38 years. Her ministries include elementary school teacher, Children’s Program Director for an HIV/AIDS Ministry, Advancement Director for her congregation and two terms as her congregational President.

During her tenure in Advancement and Congregational Leadership, she helped her congregation conduct a successful $12 million Capital Campaign and oversaw the construction of a new motherhouse and relocation of their corporate offices which included their congregation’s archives. During this process she developed a greater understanding of what is involved in archival assessment, best practices and how a collection transitions to a new location.

As a result of this experience and with concern for the long-term preservation of congregation collections, she is helping to establish a collaborative space to be located in Northeast Ohio. Sr. Susan currently serves as Executive Director of the Women Religious Archives Collaborative, a repository for the archives of up to 75 congregations from across the US and Canada. Sr. Susan is currently leading a $26 million Capital Campaign for the future Heritage Center which is slated to open in the Fall of 2027. To date the campaign, So the Stories Can Be Told has achieved $23.5 million dollars in gifts and pledges towards construction and $450,000 towards the endowment.

Besides her current work, Sr. Susan serves as President of the Board for the Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI), Vice President for the Sisters of Charity Health System Board, and as a facilitator and a conversation partner for LCWR.

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presentation(s):