Susan Dixon
2023-2025
Susan Dixon served as President-Elect (2021-2023) and President (2023-2025) of the California Retired Teachers’ Association (CalRTA), where she provided strong statewide leadership in governance, advocacy, and organizational development. She developed extensive expertise in CalRTA and CalSTRS governance, working closely with executive leadership, attending CalSTRS Board meetings, and engaging directly with members at Area and Division meetings throughout California. She served on State Delegate Convention Planning Committees, Fall Leadership Conference Committees, the Laura E. Settle Foundation, and the Bylaws and Standing Rules Committees.
During her presidency, Susan co-launched the Advocacy Membership initiative, the REACH Subcommittee — to support divisions facing organizational challenges — and helped lead the Membership Matters Campaign in a statewide effort to increase membership. She supported the restart of the Diversity Subcommittee (now called IDEAs) and made statewide advocacy efforts a priority. She wrote, and continues to write, all federal legislative alerts, which are distributed electronically to CalRTA members via email, thus facilitating critical contact between members and their legislators and promoting membership involvement. She contributed regularly to CalRTA publications and periodically updates federal information in the Members-Only section of the state website.
During the campaign to repeal the WEP GPO Social Security penalties, Susan also served on an exclusive advisory group, originally known as the “Stakeholders” under Representatives Rodney Davis and Abigail Spanberger in 116th & 117th congress and later renamed the “Kitchen Cabinet” during the 118th Congress under Representatives Garret Graves and Spanberger. CalRTA was the only West Coast organization directly engaged with the authors of the House and Senate Social Security Fairness Act bills. Susan participated in two national press conferences and was honored to attend the presidential signing of H.R. 82 in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2025.
Susan Dixon’s leadership and service have been recognized with numerous honors, including a Congressional Proclamation, a nomination for “Woman of the Year” by her Assemblymember, the honorary title of President Emerita of CalRTA, Delta Kappa Gamma’s “Shining Star” and “State Distinguished Service” Awards, and a United States flag flown over the Capitol in her honor.
Today, Susan continues her lifelong commitment to public education and advocacy as President Emerita of CalRTA. She serves as Co-Chair of the National Retirement Security Task Force, CalRTA Federal Legislation Special Assistant, a member of the Senate Social Security War Room led by senior policy advisors to Senators Warren and Wyden, and Area XIV Legislative Representative for Delta Kappa Gamma.
CalRTA President Susan Dixon (2023-2025)