Sue Earnest, PhD, Distinguished Graduate of Normal School in University Heights

Dr. Sue Earnest (neé Wolfer)

Sue Earnest (neé Wolfer) was born September 19, 1907 in North Dakota and moved to San Diego at the age of 4. She excelled in school and started San Diego High School at the age of eleven.

After finishing high school, Sue attended San Diego State Teachers College (formerly San Diego Normal School) in University Heights from 1925 to 1928. After graduation, she began teaching at Memorial Junior High School, where she combined her love for teaching and her love of theater. During her ten-year tenure at Memorial, she adapted and produced six original plays. Later, she received a master’s in psychology (1938) and a doctorate (1947) from the University of Southern California.

In 1947, Sue returned to her alma matter, San Diego State Teachers College, to begin teaching English, Psychology and Speech. She also spearheaded the development of a Speech and Hearing Clinic in 1950, and in 1952 she began her eighteen-year tenure as the chair of the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department. She was affectionately known on campus as Dr. Sue.

Dr. Earnest retired in 1973. She died on November 8, 2007, just weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday. For more information about Dr. Earnest, please click here.