Susan Durrwachter '81
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award | 2019
Susan earned her bachelor of science degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from The American University.
Now an award-winning and Emmy-nominated CNN producer, she began her career in broadcast journalism in 1990 as an on-air health correspondent for WINK-TV, a CBS affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., for five years. She then worked as a reporter/producer for ESPN2’s “The Local Sports Break” show, produced by Susquehanna Communications.
Soon after a move to NYC in 2000, she landed a job as an associate producer for the new Oprah Winfrey network, Oxygen Media, where she produced primarily scripted shows with studio audiences.
On Sept. 11, 2001, she arrived at work at Oxygen in the Chelsea area of NYC. Fifteen minutes later, the first plane struck the World Trade Center. She and a camera crew climbed through the window onto the roof and filmed the second plane strike as well as the aftermath. These turn of events changed the course of television production.
In early 2002, she became a producer for NBC News, where she booked and produced guest segments for many shows and specials, such as: “Iraq War: Shock & Awe,” “Morning Joe,” “Lester Holt Live,” Tucker Carlson’s “The Situation,” the 2004 Republican National Convention, and NBC coverage of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.
After seven years at NBC, Susan became an editorial producer for CNN in 2009, where she continues to work today, booking and producing guest segments for many shows, including: “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” “Inside Politics with John King” and “CNN New Day.” She continues to produce CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve special in Times Square with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
Between her time at NBC and CNN, she’s booked and produced segments for high-profile guests, including President Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Beyonce, Jimmy Fallon, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Howard Stern, Joe Namath, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Mark Cuban, Aretha Franklin, Bruno Mars, The Jacksons (first interview together in 30 years), and Joan and Jackie Collins (only interview together).
In addition to her work as a producer, she has been in feature films and television shows as a stand-in and/or photo double for Sarah Jessica Parker in “Sex and the City,” Meryl Streep in “It’s Complicated,” and Jodi Foster in “The Panic Room.” She also landed a speaking role playing a news reporter in “The Adjustment Bureau,” starring Matt Damon.
Her work has earned her a number of awards, including a 2017 CNN Emmy nomination for Outstanding Live Interview with Anderson Cooper, two CNN Peabody Awards for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crash in 2014 and the Gulf Oil Spill in 2010. She’s also earned two NBC Universal Ovation Awards, one for Outstanding Teamwork in 2005 and another for the NBC Torino Olympics in 2006.
Locally, she’s been named Volunteer of the Year by the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, she served two years as chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and as president of AIDS Alliance of Lycoming County.