Susanne Schnell
Executive Director

Susanne has a broad background in non-profit management and community development with a special focus on reinvesting in cities and strengthening underserved urban communities. She has designed and implemented numerous community development, cultural, and civic initiatives in collaboration with leaders from community-based non-profits, cultural institutions, local government, businesses, and universities. Prior to her arrival at Archeworks, Susanne was the consulting director of the planning and start-up phase for the National Public Housing Museum, a new cultural institution in Chicago. Previously she held positions with the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and its affiliate, the Civic Consulting Alliance, where she launched several public-private partnership initiatives in community-based planning, inner-city business development, workforce training, and school leadership development. While at the Civic Committee, Susanne played a lead role in the strategic planning process and launch of the Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative, an affordable housing rehabilitation and preservation program now operated by Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. Susanne also served as the consulting project director of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s “Learning from North Lawndale” exhibition, which helped to spawn a community-based cultural heritage initiative. For four years, Susanne held an adjunct research faculty position with the City Design Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she co-launched a Green Neighborhood Studio Design Program. While at the Center, she also completed a national best practice study on demand building strategies in declining urban neighborhoods. Before moving to Chicago, Susanne was the Assistant Director of Social Compact, a Washington DC-based national coalition of financial services institutions that promotes community reinvestment partnerships in underserved markets. She holds degrees from Smith College and The University of Michigan.

Hilary Gabel
Program Manager

Hilary manages admissions, marketing and communications, and general operations for Archeworks’ postgraduate programs.  Prior to joining Archeworks, Hilary developed and managedthe Early College Program, a high school program in art and design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  She also worked in college admissions and brings a wealth of experience in student recruitmentand advising to the position.  She was involved in the planning and launch of a new art gallery in Chicago and managed its daily operations and participation in SOFA Chicago, a large scale international art exhibition. Recently, Hilary hasexplored an interest in historic preservation by serving as a volunteerinterpreter for the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.  She earned her BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1998 and completed graduate coursework in art education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Beth Laurin
Bookkeeper

Beth Laurin brings many years of experience working in bookkeeping. She has a degree in interior design from Harrington Institute of Interior Design as well as a BA in French from Colby College. In her free time she is involved in a community garden and creating artwork.