Susan Yelavich (b. 1950) was interviewed by Wendy Scheir at the The New School’s University Center Library at 63 Fifth Avenue on January 31, 2019. In the interview Yelavich describes her time at Parsons School of Design and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. A substantial portion of the interview focuses on Parsons’ MA program in Design Studies. Yelavich was director of Design Studies from its inception in 2012 to 2018. In 2018, Design Studies transitioned from an MA to certificate program. Yelavich begins the interview speaking about her tenure at Cooper Hewitt. She describes how her original ambitions to work at the museum to supplement to her painting practice transformed into a career. Yelavich recounts her departure from Cooper Hewitt in 2002, where she had been “restructured out” of her role as assistant director a public programs. She remembers being offered a position at Parsons, citing Clive Dilnot as instrumental in this appointment. From there, Yelavich describes her unexpected transition from part-time professor to director of Design Studies. She recalls the challenges of getting the program off the ground, designing coursework, and accreditation process. From there, she describes how Design Studies transitioned from an MA program to a certificate program. Yelavich cites low enrollment from 2016 onwards and Parsons’ leadership as influential in this decision. She recounts overseeing the program’s transition, and her decision to formally retire in 2019. She concludes the interview discussing former Design Studies students’ theses, new trends in materiality, and her retirement plans.