CNN White House correspondent, loving daughter, fun-loving sister (did you know she has a twin sister, Suzette?), cool aunt, loyal friend, marathon runner, and all around great person.  I’ve been fortunate enough to count Suzanne among my friends for the past nine years, and I’ll tell you a couple of secrets.  She’s as beautiful in person as she is on TV, and she’s as nice and approachable as well.  As worldly as she appears on CNN, she’s actually a local, raised in Maryland.  Both her parents, however, hail from New Orleans, which Suzanne holds near and dear to her heart.  After Katrina, Suzanne went down to the 7th ward with a CNN camera crew and did a very moving, personal piece with members of her extended family.  

Suzanne got her quest for knowledge honestly—her dad was Dean of the College of Medicine at Howard University, and her mom is a retired school teacher.  Suzanne (pronounced Sue zahn, not Sue zann) did her undergrad at Harvard, internships in Kenya and Egypt, and went on to the Columbia School of Journalism for her Masters degree in journalism. The pronunciation of her name has been eternalized thanks to a Youtube clip featuring Suzanne and President George W. Bush. Despite repeated attempts by Bush’s press team and staff, he couldn’t get it right.  Finally, during his last press conference, he did it!  He then went onto joke, “and you can call me Gahge!” The running joke within the WH press corps is how long it will take President Obama to get it right.   Getting President Bush to correctly pronounce her name is just one of thousands of great memories Suzanne has from her years at the White House.  “One of my most memorable moments is returning from a long trip on Air Force II with Hillary Clinton.  Somehow word got out that it was my 30th birthday, and Hillary came back and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

As White House correspondent for CNN, Suzanne has covered three Presidents.  She was there for Clinton’s last year, covered seven years of the George W. Bush administration, and was hot on the heels of Barack Obama during his campaign for Presidency. Suzanne was on the campaign trail for a full year with virtually no breaks other than the occasional stop home to repack.   As Suzanne’s friend, I knew it was an exhausting time for her.  To boost her spirits, I placed a full-size Obama cut-out in her dining room to greet her on her few pit stops home.  To keep things interesting, Barack assumed different roles throughout the year.  There was Cowboy Barack, Elvis Barack, Fireman Barack, etc.  “My favorite was Luau Barack,” laughs Suzanne.  “I just couldn’t seem to get away from him, and he always managed to beat me back to DC!  My Mom actually whisked him away one day for a photo op with friends.”  Humor aside, the changing of the guard presents many challenges for the journalists tasked with covering his comings and goings. “The Obama administration is very different from the Bush administration,” says Suzanne.  “The pace is different; the mood is different.  It’s always a challenge transitioning from one administration to the next. Bush and I had one thing in common, however,” laughs Suzanne.  “We both always have a black Sharpie within reach.”  Suzanne has a bit in common with the Obamas as well.  As it turns out, even in the White House, there are still only six degrees of separation.  On the campaign trail, Suzanne was interviewing Michelle Obama for the first time when Michelle said, “I think I know your sister—I think she dated one of Barack’s law school roommates.”  It truly is a small world.  “Here I am talking to Michelle Obama, and she mentions Suzette,” laughs Suzanne.  “It was a nice icebreaker between us, and gave us a familiarity we didn’t have before.”

What is it that brought Suzanne to CNN?  “I always admired CNN,” says Suzanne.  “It’s substantive, meaningful, timely, and it’s international. CNN is a very respected brand, and I like being a part of that.  As journalists, we try to deliver news that’s right down the middle, which is not always an easy thing to do. We try not to let biases get in the way.  I’m a traditionalist as a journalist; I believe in that mission.”

Beyond being a consummate professional, those fortunate enough to be in Suzanne’s inner circle know that she has a very unique, enviable style.  She is grace, beauty and brains. They also know that she emits a very warm, welcoming energy.  It truly is a star-like quality. Contrary to the high-energy person that she is, being in her presence is actually very calming and soothing. Interestingly enough, Suzanne is more comfortable in front of a camera reporting to a live TV audience of millions than she is speaking in front of a live audience of 100. “Believe it or not, when I’m in front of the camera, it feels like I’m having a one-on-one conversation.  I’m experiencing it like I’m speaking directly to someone as opposed to a room full of people,” says Suzanne.  “I know it seems a little crazy, but it feels very intimate, and it works for me.”  Maybe that explains why whether she’s speaking to you through a CNN lens or standing right in front of you, there’s a genuine feeling of intimacy and trust.

When Suzanne isn’t chasing Presidents, you can find her out chasing the sun.  She is a self-admitted sun worshipper, and ranks sunbathing as her #1 method of unwinding at home or on the road. “Being outdoors relaxes me,” says Suzanne.  “There’s nothing better than sitting under the sun on my deck reading the paper with a glass of wine or cup of coffee.”  By the way, she reads at least three daily, along with several blogs and newswires.  Don’t be fooled, however, there’s very little sitting in Suzanne’s daily agenda.  A typical day has her up at 3:00 am heading to the White House.  It’s only fitting that her other favorite pastime is running. While many of us do it to burn calories, Suzanne does it to decompress, especially when she’s on the road.  “One of the best ways for me to explore a new city is to hit the pavement and get lost in it,” says Suzanne. “My running shoes are always in my suitcase, right alongside my bathing suit. You never know when you might get an unexpected opportunity to take a dip, and I like to be prepared.”   So how does an award-winning journalist stay balanced?  “Friends and family keep it real for me,” says Suzanne.  I know first-hand how close Suzanne is to her family.  She was actually with her twin sister, Suzette, picking up her niece from drama camp when we spoke. “When I’m on the road, I always take the opportunity to stop and appreciate where I am—literally.  I will look out the window to really see where I am or I’ll lace up my shoes and go for a run. I am always thankful for wherever I am at that particular moment.”

So, of course, as part of our end of summer/back to school issue, I had to ask the big question—Where did Suzanne Malveaux spend her summer vacation?  Turns out she went on safari in Kenya.  “Every morning I sat with my coffee and listened to the sound of the hippos gliding down the river.”  Suzanne hasn’t had much of a break, however, as she’s been filling in as anchor for Wolf Blitzer in The Situation Room during his summer breaks.  “I’ve been filling in so much, they’re starting to call me She-Wolf,” laughed Suzanne.  “Filling in for Wolf has been great.  It has allowed me to broaden my experiences.  I’m doing more interviews and analyses, and obviously, more studio work.” We all look forward to seeing lots more of Suzanne whether its covering the White House, anchoring the Situation Room, or running beside her on the trail.

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