Board Of Trustees
SUSIE MEDAK - Interim CEO, Ex Officio Trustee
Susie Medak is the Interim CEO of SFJAZZ. As the Managing Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 1990 to 2022, Susie brings an exceptional wealth of experience in executive leadership, governance, and organizational development to her new role at SFJAZZ, as well as a profound dedication to the arts and cultural community.
Since stepping down from the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Susie has become a highly regarded executive coach and interim leader. Most recently, she has served as an interim executive for esteemed institutions such as Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC, and McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. In addition to her leadership roles, Susie works closely with boards, teams, and individual clients, specializing in organizational assessments, board retreats, and strategic partnership development.
Susie served as Managing Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 1990 to 2022. During her tenure, she led numerous transformative projects, including the construction of the Roda Theatre, the Nevo Education Center, and the Peet’s Theatre renovation. Her leadership also saw the acquisition of the Harrison Street campus and the development of the Medak Center, a 45-unit artist housing building named in her honor. Beyond Berkeley Rep, Susie has held national leadership roles as president of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and treasurer of Theatre Communications Group (TCG).
Susie’s commitment to the arts extends to her involvement in numerous boards and panels, including the Massachusetts Arts Council, Arts Midwest, The Joyce Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Locally, she has championed the arts as founding chair of the Berkeley Arts in Education Steering Committee and the Berkeley Cultural Trust. Her contributions have been widely recognized, earning her prestigious accolades such as the 2012 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal and the 2017 Visionary Leadership Award from TCG.
In addition to her leadership work, Susie has served as faculty at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University and is currently a lecturer at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and is a member of the International Women’s Forum. She resides in Berkeley, CA, and continues to be deeply involved in advancing the cultural landscape of her community and beyond.