Susan M. Kielty Clark – Class of 1980
Susan Kielty Clark has dedicated her life to service, leadership, faith, family, education, athletics, and community. A proud Burke High School alumna, she has spent her life breaking barriers, serving others, and opening doors for those who followed.
During her years at Burke High School, Susan competed and lettered in volleyball and basketball. Her passion for athletics continued when she played on the University of Nebraska at Omaha softball team in 1983. The discipline, teamwork, competitiveness, and perseverance developed through athletics became qualities that would define much of her life.
Susan embarked on a distinguished 23-year career with the Omaha Police Department beginning in 1984. During her career, she became a pioneer for women in law enforcement. In 1988, she became the first female Omaha Police Officer to qualify for and successfully complete SWAT School. In 1992, she became the first female officer assigned to Bicycle Patrol, and in 1996, she became the first female Omaha Police K-9 Officer.
She continued her education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha earning a bachelor of science degree in 1986 and graduate degree in 1994.
Susan’s committed to service for 8 years in the United States Army Reserve (1987–1995) as an Intelligence Analyst . Her military and law-enforcement careers established a lifelong tradition of discipline, leadership, courage, and dedication to others.
Her commitment to public safety continues through Omaha Crime Stoppers, where she has served on the board since 2019. She served as Vice President from 2020–2021 and became President in 2022, providing leadership in crime prevention, fundraising, public awareness, and community partnerships.
Susan has a love of the outdoors. She devoted 35 years to volunteering with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, supporting its Hunter Education, Fishing, and Becoming an Outdoor Woman programs. She continues to explore and enjoy the outside world of hiking, kayaking and paddleboarding.
She has served on the Metropolitan Hospitality Association Board since 2022, a organization that advocates for local tourism abd supports hospitality initiatives in the metro area. MHA has been a major contributor to the Omaha Police Officer of the Year Luncheon and Omaha Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament.
A LIFE OF FAITH, TRAVEL & ATHLETICISM
Susan’s Catholic faith has been a central part of her life. Since 1998, she has taught and led Biblical Studies at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church in Omaha. In 2007, she earned a Catholic Biblical School Certificate from the Augustine Institute in Denver.
Her love of learning and lifelong wanderlust have taken her around the world. Since 1987, she has traveled extensively through more than 30 countries and territories, with many journeys specifically centered on deepening her Catholic faith by experiencing firsthand the sacred places, churches, shrines, relics, monasteries, and treasures of Christianity.
Her travels have included Israel and the Holy Land, Greece, Poland, Egypt, Jordan, Malta, Cyprus, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Morocco, along with many other historic Christian destinations. She has walked in places associated with Jesus, the Apostles, the early Church, saints, Marian devotion, and centuries of Catholic tradition.
Her competitive spirit remains very much alive. Today, Susan is active in league golf and competitive
pickleball, continuing the athletic pursuits that began at Burke. Most recently, she earned second place at a PPA tournament in Newport Beach, California, demonstrating that her passion for competition, fitness, and teamwork continues well into this chapter of her life.
Among her many honors, Susan was named Nebraska Mother of the Year in 2017, representing Nebraska in the National Mother of the Year program. She considers her greatest blessings to be her family: she has been married for 39 years, is the mother of six and grandmother of thirteen.
Susan’s life reflects the values of courage, perseverance, compassion, leadership, faith, athleticism, and service. From competing as a Burke athlete and breaking barriers as a pioneering police officer to serving her country, strengthening her community, teaching others, traveling the world in pursuit of a deeper faith, and continuing to compete athletically, she has built a legacy defined by service, curiosity, determination, and a lifelong commitment to excellence.
