Sue Earnest

Bio

Sue Earnest, Ph.D. was born in 1907 and passed away in 2007 at 100 years of age. Hers was a life filled with learning and accomplishment. She graduated from San Diego State College in 1928, earned a Master’s degree from SDSC in 1938, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in  1947, the same year in which she joined the SDSC faculty. Prior to 1947, Earnest taught in San Diego City Schools. Earnest was a faculty member at SDSC for 26 years, serving for 18 of those as chair of the department, known then as the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. She co-founded the Children’s Speech and Language Clinic, and her guidance was essential to the growth of the clinic that serves adults. She also aided in creating a similar clinic at Balboa Naval Medical Center. Active in the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association, the International Association for Logopedics and Phoniatrics, and the National Board of Governors of United Cerebral Palsy, as well as Toastmasters International, she displayed boundless energy. After retirement, Earnest assumed leadership roles as president of the SDSU Alumni Association and the Friends of the Library. She and her husband, Lester, gifted to SDSU a statue of the first president of the San Diego Normal School, Samuel T. Black (1897-1919). It sits prominently in front of the SDSU Faculty-Staff Center. Earnest attended the Normal School before entering SDSC. That Normal School became SDSU much later.  Affectionately referred to as “Dr. Sue” on campus, Earnest received SDSU Distinguished Alumni Awards (previously known as Montys) in recognition of her contributions to the university and community. She was named Woman of the Year by Business and Professional Women of San Diego County, was  San Diego County Mortar Board Distinguished Alumna, and was honored by the national Mortar Board.

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