Susan Engel

Susan Engel is Executive Director of 92Y Talks, the world-renowned live events series that is now widely recognized as a premier forum for the best minds of their time.

In the course of her 30-year tenure at 92Y, Susan has been a primary force in shaping the talks program and exponentially expanding the size and scope of 92Y’s offerings, many of which are now available through digital channels and satellite broadcasts.

A small sampling of those who have recently graced 92Y’s stage includes Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Amy Poehler, Daniel Radcliffe, Rachel Weisz, Ken Burns, Stephen Colbert, Woody Allen, Anna Deavere Smith, Nick Nolte, Gloria Steinem, Sally Field, Jon Stewart, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Anna Wintour, Ehud Barak, John Oliver, Francis Ford Coppola, Aretha Franklin, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Jeremy Irons, Ethan Hawke, Rachel Brosnahan, Iris Apfel, Shonda Rhimes, Rachel Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Brooks, Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Lopez, Tina Fey and Tony Blair.

Susan has brought thousands of luminaries to 92Y and developed partnerships with many organizations that help to enhance the caliber and reach of 92Y Talks, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Showtime, HBO, New York Comedy Festival and the World Science Festival. She has also developed popular, long-running conversation series with expert hosts and moderators including long-standing series, “In the News” with journalist Jeff Greenfield; “Reel Pieces” with Dr. Annette Insdorf; and “Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis.” New series include “Faith and Celebrity" with Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, "Science Talks" with Claudia Dreifus, "Imagining Men and Women" with Jennifer Finney Boylan and “TV Talks” with The Hollywood Reporter.

Susan also leads on Jewish/Israel Talks, having presented thought leaders such as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Simon Schama, Deborah Lipstadt, Yuval Harari, Amos Oz as well as arranged for official Israel State visits from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Shimon Peres. She also produced a tribute to Elie Wiesel, in honor of his forty years of lectures at 92Y.

Susan has her MA in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary as well as MS in Social Work from Columbia University.