Everything J. Sue Fletcher did throughout her career was to help others. She set her sights on nursing as a child because she wanted to have a meaningful impact on the world. With the support of her family, particularly her grandfather, who believed she could do whatever she set her mind to, Dr. Fletcher strove to make her mark on the field. Her first professional position was instructor at Modesto Junior College, followed by staff nurse at Scenic General Hospital and professor and chair of the Department of Physical Education and Health at California State University. Thanks to Dr. Fletcher’s efforts, the name of the department was later changed to be the Department of Kinesiology to match other universities. Although she stepped down from her post in 2015, she maintains the distinguished title of professor emerita.
To prepare for her endeavors, Dr. Fletcher earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing and a Master of Science in nursing from California State University in 1968 and 1971, respectively, as well as an EdD from the University of San Francisco in 1980. She also became a registered nurse in the state of California. While Dr. Fletcher was in school, she focused her attention on community mental health, health and safety, and sex education. She ensured she remained connected to her peers and any developments in her field by affiliating with the American Association of Health Education, the Southwest Regional Health Division of the Alliance for Health, the California Nurses Association, the Scientific Society for the Study of Sexuality, the World Association of Sexology, and the International Family Therapy Association.
When Dr. Fletcher isn’t working, she enjoys reading, traveling, hunting, walking her dog, and spending time with her grandson. She is also the Eucharistic minister at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.