Introducing New Chief Program Officer: Grace Su

Grace Su, BCNC Chief Program Officer - Photo: Sammy Wong

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce that Grace Su will be BCNC’s new Chief Program Officer, effective Monday, January 8th, 2024. Grace brings to the position extensive experience with the immigrant community, her passion for amplifying and advocating for Asian Americans, and 14 years of experience in social work and the non-profit sector.

Grace started at BCNC in 2014, as a Family Connector. Prior to taking on the role of Chief Program Officer, she was the Director of Family Services where she led a team of staff and interns to provide culturally responsive and linguistically accessible behavioral and mental health support services. Under her leadership, she successfully grew the Family Services team from 2 staff and 2 interns to 9 staff and 7 interns, implemented Mental Health First Aid trainings to 120 people across BCNC and the community, launched the Parenthood and Me program for new parents, the Asian American Mental Health Coalition for providers, and the Mental Health First Aid Trainers Network for Chinese-speaking instructors.

BCNC Family Services Team - Photo: Melanie Fu

She participated in research studies on Asian immigrant parents discussing discrimination and cultural identity with their children, the cultural responsiveness of the Mental Health First Aid curricula, and Asian American women’s health.

Grace was born in China, immigrated to Boston, and participated in BCNC after school programs when she was a child. Grace shares, “When I was a child, BCNC was my second home. Having seen the struggles of my family trying to integrate into a new environment, navigating systems unfamiliar to them, and missing out on opportunities due to language barrier, I understand the importance of BCNC and the significant role it holds in serving the immigrant community.”  

Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Health and Mental Health from Boston College, and she is currently completing a Doctorate in Clinical Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania.

BCNC CEO Ben Hires states, “I know BCNC will continue to flourish under her leadership. We are fortunate to benefit from her direct experience as a participant and member of our senior leadership team. As BCNC aims to strengthen the mental health of families, Grace’s expertise will be pivotal as we integrate mental health support in all our programs.”

Grace Su - Photo: David Jacobs

Grace shares, “I am truly honored for the opportunity to serve in the capacity as Chief Program Officer. I would like to build BCNC’s infrastructure so that staff can more effectively serve families. I would like BCNC to actively engage in research studies to increase knowledge on and develop interventions for Asian communities. I strongly believe in the importance of cultivating a collaborative and supportive work environment and I look forward to supporting our staff, interns, and volunteers as we empower and build healthy families to achieve greater economic success and social well-being.”