Susan Magsamen

Director of Interdisciplinary Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Brain Science Institute. She works across the university and beyond to collaborate on programs that bring evidence-based brain science knowledge and practice to a range of communities. Susan Magsamen is an award-winning writer and advisor on family and children’s issues with a special interest in creativity and learning. She is founder and president of Curiosityville and FamilyStories. Her body of work has earned hundreds of national awards and recognition from child development experts and parenting associations, including Oppenheim Awards, Parents’ Choice, Family Fun, National Association of Parenting Publications Awards, Hearthsong, and the prestigious Canadian Toy Council Award. Susan was the Chair of the Wondertime Magazine Editorial Advisory Council, a national child development magazine for families that shares relevant research in practical ways. In 1988, Susan founded Curiosity Kits, a multi-sensory, hands-on learning activity company. Susan’s books and programs have been called "a beautiful celebration of family life", empowering parents and children to connect with each other, with other families and with the world around them. Susan’s work is widely recognized as fostering and enhancing the ways we learn, play, create, and grow as individuals, families and communities.Susan's approach to creating enriching learning environments at home, after-school and in the community combines interdisciplinary, evidence-based research with practical, applicable ideas and programs. She regularly brings together scientists, educators, parents, psychologists, advocates, policy makers, educational media and others to share their perspectives on topics that matter including education, family life, careers and more. Then, through a series of communications platforms – from books to videos, radio to speaker series – Susan brings this knowledge, insight and ideas to those who need it to inform, inspire and educate. In her capacity as director of Interdisciplinary Programs at Johns Hopkins University’s Brain Sciences Institute, she fosters dialogue among educators, families and researchers in the brain sciences.Susan is president of Play for Tomorrow and the Ultimate Block Party and co-director of the Center for Re-Imaging Children’s Learning and Education (CiRCLE) at Temple University and one of the founders of the Ultimate Block Party and L_rn. She co-founded the Neuro-Education Initiative at Johns Hopkins School of Education and serves on national and international boards for several organizations, including AEMS (Arts Education in Maryland Schools). Susan is a recent guest editor for the IMBES (International Mind, Brain and Education Society) on arts, creativity and learning. Author of seven books for families, Susan recently published with National Geographic The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders.Susan received Masters degrees in Communications and Business from Johns Hopkins University.Susan and her husband, Rick Huganir, professor and director of the Department of Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University live in an old, converted mill with their two gentle and loving lab dogs and big cats. Their four children are all amazingly creative including Nikki a graphic designer, Sam a composer and musician, Adam a self-described renaissance and gadget guy, and Ben, a creative writer and athlete.