Fields '71 & Hogg '15 Named 2024 Alumnae Awards Recipients

After graduating from Chatham Hall in 1971, Venita Fields attended Northwestern University from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in history. She began her finance career at the Continental Illinois National Bank before receiving her Master of Business Administration while working full-time at Citibank.

One of Chatham Hall’s first Black students, Fields continued to break boundaries as a person of color and woman working in corporate America. Throughout her 35-year career, she rose the ranks of several companies including senior vice president and group executive officer at Bank of America, partner at Smith Whiley & Company, and her current role as partner at Pelham S2K Managers. Fields also served as a guest Lecturer at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for several years.

“Venita is an accomplished woman of honor and great integrity who respects and inspires respect because she is the epitome of a curious thinker, continually striving to make a positive impact on everyone who enters her universe of grace,” said nominator and long-time friend Gloria Bond Clunie ‘71.

Fields has been nationally recognized numerous times in her life, including most recently in 2023 by BoardProspects as one of the top Black Board Members in the U.S., by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as a Directorship 100 Honoree in 2021, as one of the Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine in 2018, and as a Director to Watch by Private Company Director’s Magazine in both 2019 and 2017. In 2017, she was also one of 50 women recognized in Chicago Woman’s Magazine's “Fierce 50.” Fields was among the winning team of the M&A Advisor’s 2005 Consumer Deal of the Year, the Chicago United’s 2005 Business Leader of Color, and one of YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Woman of Achievement Award recipients in 2004, among other accolades.

In the community, Fields is a dedicated and long-time member of Sherman United Methodist Church, and has donated her time and skills to many corporate and nonprofit boards, including as a Chatham Hall Trustee. She currently serves as an independent director on the public board of the Superior Group of Companies, the private board of IMA Financial Group, and as chair of the board of Lifespace Communities, a national system of 17 Senior Retirement Communities. Fields has also served as an active and energetic leader of the Association for Corporate Growth Chicago, Chicago Finance Exchange, Economic Club of Chicago, NACD, David’s Bridal, Women Corporate Directors, Private Directors Association, Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Ravinia Festival, and Delta Sigma Theta, among others. 

At Chatham Hall, Fields participated in Student Council, Sherwood Dramatic Society, St. Mary's Choir, Sextet, and Purple Team. 

The Chatham Hall Leader on the Rise Award was established in 2021 and recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves through creativity, achievement, and/or innovation either in their profession or through commitment to an issue, project, or cause.

Susanna Hogg graduated from Chatham Hall in 2015 before attending the University of Michigan. During her time at Michigan as an aerospace engineering major, she was a member of the student branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and gained experience as an intern with Northrop Grumman where she would return to work full time upon graduating in 2019. 

Currently a propulsion engineer, Hogg works on the first stage of the Antares rocket, which sends supplies to the International Space Station. She has contributed to the design, development, testing, and optimization of various propulsion systems for both the launch vehicle and ground systems, and collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve mission success. Eager to learn and contribute, Hogg is passionate about advancing the field of aerospace engineering and exploring the possibilities of space.

While at Chatham Hall, Hogg was a member of the Chatham Athletic Council, Panache, Honor Council, National Honor and Cum Laude Societies, and served as Gold Team captain. 

Both Fields and Hogg will be recognized and give remarks during Alumnae Reunion on May 3-5. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.chathamhall.org/reunion.