Written by: Josiah Self
Another convocation has come and gone, leaving scholars feeling emotional, inspired, and ready to change the world. Scholar Cayden Dunn introduced Susan Guess, a Paducah native with deep roots in public relations, education, and finance. After studying public relations, advertising, and Applied Communications at Murray State University, Susan earned her master’s degree from the University of Louisville. She has since held several leadership roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Paducah Bank.
What brought Susan to us this evening, however, was her passion for helping others stand up to bullying. Alongside her daughter Morgan, she co-founded the Guess Anti-Bullying Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a clear mission: “To create a kinder world by empowering young people to lift up their voices against bullying and for one another,” (Guess Anti‑Bullying Fund, 2025).
One of their most notable achievements was successfully lobbying for Kentucky House Bill 316. This legislation provides a clear definition of bullying for all 640,000 public school students in the state, giving students an accessible way to speak up without having to navigate pages of legal text. Another recent milestone was the launch of “Be Kind” Kentucky license plates. Designed and marketed by Morgan, proceeds from these plates benefit mental health centers across the Commonwealth.
For Susan and Morgan, the mission is deeply personal. Their family has experienced the effects of bullying firsthand. Rather than staying silent, they chose to take a stand.
As Susan often says, “Bad things are going to happen in life. You can either blame others, do nothing, or be a part of the change.” For some scholars, the Guesses’ story hit close to home, with some having to leave the room. Susan encouraged anyone who’s felt the impact of bullying to speak out and help create change in their own communities.
To hear more about Susan and Morgan’s work visit the Guess Anti-Bullying Website here.