SuEllen Fried Bio

SuEllen Fried co-authored "Bullies & Victims: Helping Your Child Through the Schoolyard Battlefield" in 1996 and "Bullies, Targets & Witnesses: Helping Children Break the Pain Chain" in 2003 with her daughter, Paula Fried, Ph.D.

She has been an international speaker on the topic of child abuse and bullying and has appeared on Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, MSNBC, and was featured on an A&E Documentary, Bill Kurtis Reports, "Bullied to Death". She has been interviewed on countless TV and radio stations and written about in numerous newspapers and magazines. She has delivered addresses and presented workshops at numerous national and international conferences on child abuse and neglect and has been a keynote speaker at child abuse conferences in 28 states. She travels extensively, speaking with students, educators and parents on the topic of bullying.

SuEllen attended Washington University, St. Louis, MO and received a B.A. in Creative Arts and Mental Health from Park University, Parkville, MO. She earned the Academy of Registered Dance Therapists accreditation (ADTR) - a Master's Degree equivalency from the American Dance Therapy Association and worked as a dance therapist in the Kansas City area for 20 years.

SuEllen has been active in mental health organizations at the local, state and national levels, including an appointment in 1970 to the President's Task Force on the Mentally Handicapped. She served as a consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health and to the Center for Advanced Study and Continuing Education in Mental Health. From 1961-1978, SuEllen volunteered as a dance and drama therapist at Osawatomie State Hospital in Kansas, producing, directing, writing and choreographing original musical productions conceptualized and performed by patients across the state that gave audiences a new perspective on mental illness.

Her work with Dr. Karl Menninger, renowned psychiatrist and author of "The Crime of Punishment", led SuEllen to organize an inmate volunteer and self-help program which is now operating in seven Kansas Correctional institutions. She still serves as a volunteer at the Kansas Lansing Correctional Facility East.

Long an advocate for children, SuEllen founded the Kansas Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in 1976, which served as the model chapter for the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, now known as Prevent Child Abuse America. She served as president of the Kansas Committee form 1976-1980 and served as the Chariman of the Board of the national organization from 1980-1982. She continues to serve on that board as a Life Member. She served as a Board member and Vice-President of Parents as Teachers National Center from 1987-2003. She was a participant in the Surgeon General's Task Force on Family Violence in 1985 and founded STOP Violence! in 1982.

Some of SuEllen's honors and awards include being named President H.W. Bush's 900th Point of Light in 1993; Kansas City Spirit Award in 1989; University of Missouri Community Service Award in 1997; Park College Alumnus of the Year in 1990; Johnson Countain (KS) of the Year in 1993; Volunteer of the Year for the Kansas Departmenet of Corrections in 1989; the Karl Menninger Award in 1998; Mid-Continenet Council of Girl Scouts, Women of Achievement in 1987; Mary Ellen Award from the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in 1994; the International Service Award from the RLDS Church in 1984; the Daily Point of Light Award in 1998; The Donna Stone Award from Prevent Child Abuse America in 2002; Sigma Delta Tau Alumna of Year Award, 2002; and the Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service, William Jewell College, 2004.

SuEllen has been married to Harvey Fried for 52 years and they have three children - Jeff, a hospital administrator; Paula, a clinical psychologist; and Marc, an attorney. SuEllen and Harvey have seven "miracles" which is how she describes her grandchildren.