Susan Dawson E3 Alliance Founder Turn Author Announces First Book
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, Texas — May 30, 2025 — Susan Dawson, founder of E3 Alliance and a visionary leader in educational transformation, celebrates a historic milestone today with the release of her debut book, ‘Changing Education System: Wisdom Gained by E3 Alliance in Driving Effective Change Using Data and Collaboration.’ This groundbreaking work offers proven strategies to bridge achievement gaps, expand access to quality education, and foster collaborative solutions in a time of national educational uncertainty.
In an era where federal support for education and social services faces unprecedented threats, Dawson’s book serves as both a roadmap and inspiration for communities committed to lasting change. “Drawing on her extensive experience, Dawson shares innovative strategies rooted in data and collaboration, offering practical solutions to policymakers, educators, and community leaders alike.” The book includes real-life examples, such as how E3 Alliance decreased the gap between high-performing Black and White students accessing advanced math pathways by over 90 percent, increased the number of students enrolling in high-quality Pre-K by nine times, and saved the Central Texas region over $37 million by improving student attendance.
Dawson is a distinguished leader in Texas’s community, business, and civic sectors. Transitioning from a successful entrepreneur to a dedicated social innovator, she founded and led the nonprofit E3 Alliance for 18 years. Under her leadership, E3 Alliance has become nationally recognized for its innovative approach to transforming education through data-driven strategies and collaborative efforts, aiming to ensure success for all students.
An accomplished Professional Engineer, Susan previously served as president of Athens Group, an employee-owned consulting firm specializing in technology strategy and software solutions. Her career also includes leadership roles in technology ventures and a notable tenure as Computer Integrated Manufacturing Manager at Motorola’s Semiconductor Product Sector, where she oversaw global factory integration systems.
Beyond her professional achievements, Susan has committed herself to community service. She has held leadership positions, such as Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and board officer at AARO, Leadership Austin, Children’s Optimal Health, Workforce Solutions, American Youthworks, and Austin Partners in Education. She also founded Addressing Cancer Together, a program dedicated to improving care systems for uninsured cancer patients across Central Texas.
Her numerous accolades include the Leadership Austin Award for Lifetime Achievement, Austin Under 40 Austinite of the Year, “Hero for Children” from the Texas State Board of Education, Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Dell Medical School’s “Health Hero,” UT McCombs School’s “Trailblazer Award,” NAPE’s “Diversity in Leadership,” and “CEO of the Year” from the Austin Chamber. She has been recognized as one of Austin’s “30 Most Influential Leaders,” a StriveTogether “Cradle to Career Champion,” the 2020 “Austinite of the Year,” AARO’s “Visionary of the Year” in 2022, and the recipient of the iACT Hope Award in 2024.
A proud alumna of Princeton University (BSE, Cum Laude) and The University of Texas McCombs School of Business (MBA, Highest Honors), Susan is also the wife of Dr. Ken Mannas and mother of two public school graduates—one now practicing dentistry after graduating from Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, and another involved in the Duke University Vaccination Clinic after earning a Master’s in biomedical engineering from Purdue University. She is currently a Stage 4 breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2016, and has led efforts to enhance cancer research, prevention, and healthcare services for underserved populations in her region and beyond.
To honor her achievement, “Join us to celebrate Susan Dawson’s inspiring journey and explore how her insights can shape the future of education in your community.”
✨ First Stop: The University of Texas at Austin | College of Education | George I Sánchez Building | Massey Honor Hall
🗓️ Tuesday, June 3 ⏰ 3 – 4:15 P.M. | Register here
✨ Second Stop: Austin Community College | HLC 2000 | Amado Peña Mural Area, Room C2.1401
🗓️ Tuesday, June 10 ⏰ 4 – 5:15 P.M. | Register here
Dawson founded E3 Alliance, a nationally recognized leader in systems change, in 2006. E3 is renowned as a proof point for collaborating and aligning efforts across early childhood education to pre-K–12 school districts, higher education, and into the workforce. E3 leads the state in analyzing and sharing the most comprehensive local, regional, and statewide education data ever made available to help students succeed and improve economic mobility and sustainability.
Susan recently appeared on the Collective Impact Forum Podcast, sharing her journey, motivations, and vision for the future of education—an inspiring listen as she discusses “How to Influence Without Authority.” You can listen here.