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A Kentucky State University alumna found her community at Kentucky State and has gone on to serve as the director of member relations at the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Suzy Hosley, a 2006 graduate, has spent 14 years with the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce beginning shortly after college. 

“What drew me to the Frankfort Area Chamber is the strong connection the organization has to the community,” Hosley said. “Our mission is to build a vibrant economy through member-driven advocacy and community leadership.”

The epitome of her job, Hosley said, is to build and maintain strong relationships, which helps accomplish community goals and foster leadership. 

Born and raised in Frankfort, Hosley said she felt the pull to leave home and started her collegiate path at another university. 

“I found myself a little lost and distracted and suffered academic hardship,” Hosley said. 

Her plan, Hosley said, was to move back home, enroll at Kentucky State, get her grades up and transfer.

“However, what I found was the guidance I was missing and Kentucky State gave me the direction I needed,” Hosley said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my collegiate experience at Kentucky State and decided not to transfer.”

Hosley said the small class sizes allowed her to form mentor/student relationships with her professors and experience more hands-on learning. 

“I went from academic probation to graduating magna cum laude with a 3.8 GPA,” Hosley said. 

Hosley graduated from the art department, which she said was like a family. The students were on a first name basis with the professors, who went out of their way to be mentors. The curriculum was very hands-on, Hosley said. 

“I have so many great memories at Jackson Hall exploring my creative path, but my favorite memory was the first trip (we had more than one) to New York City with my student peers and professors,” Hosley said. “We traveled through the underground art galleries of Chelsea and mesmerized ourselves with the Museum of Modern Art. It was an unforgettable trip and I am very grateful to Kentucky State for allowing me the opportunity.”

Hosley said she learned many valuable lessons at Kentucky State, but one was the importance of community. 

“In our department we had a tight-knit group and we all had a role. Everyone was included,” Hosley said.

Another valuable lesson Hosley learned on the Hill was the importance of diversity. 

“As a white girl from the suburbs of Kentucky, the opportunity to study and learn with people from all over the world helped me build the meaning of perspective and celebrate cultural differences and similarities,” Hosley said.

Hosley served as the interim president/CEO of the Frankfort Area Chamber in 2020. She’s also a proud member of the Frankfort Kiwanis Club and a volunteer at the Franklin County Farmers Market. She is a graduate of Leadership Frankfort, Leadership Central Kentucky and the US Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management. In 2019, she was awarded staff member of the year by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives. 

She is married to Luke Hosley. They have a son, Quinn.