Alumni RAMblings - Sue Veteri Woods, GSB '92

The winters up and down Fordham Road have never been easy, but they have always helped as a challenge for Fordham's uber successful crew team as they make their way up and down the hills of the Bronx and head for the early mornings on the Harlem River. One of the most successful people, let alone athletes, in Fordham crew history is Sue Veteri Woods. We caught up with Sue to talk about life after her time on the river.
 
You had such an amazing crew career at Fordham, have you stayed active in athletics since you left?
After graduating from Fordham I rowed at the New York Athletic Club for 5 years, with many of my Fordham colleagues and friends.  I lived and worked in New York City, while commuting to Pelham to row 7 days a week.  It was incredible to be able continue my rowing career with my Fordham teammates that I respected and depended on so much. 
 
After having children my family and I ended up moving to Pelham Manor, not surprising the same town of NYAC Traver's Island.  I soon became very involved in start-up community rowing program called Pelham Community Rowing Association.  In just a few years PCRA raised $1 million to build a boathouse on Glen Island, and serves youth and adult rowing at the learn-to-row, recreational, and competitive levels. 
 
How did you get started in rowing, what was it like hitting the waters of the Harlem River early in the morning?
I was introduced to rowing on the Charles River in high school.  My cousin was a coxswain at Wellesley College. I first remember seeing her boat and falling in love with the unison of everyone in the boat and how they made such a challenging task look so easy.
 
The mornings at Fordham were never easy!  Getting up in the dark and trying not to wake my roommates was tricky.  But once you were outside the campus gates with your teammates running to the boathouse, we'd forgotten what time it was.  Coach Ted Bonnano soon became an important part of my life, our lives, and it was amazing rowing for such an accomplished and dedicated coach. It was always nice coming home and having the whole day ahead.
 
 
What was the highlight personally of your career as a student-athlete at Fordham?
By my senior year we had become a strong team, both men and women.  To our surprise we became the team to beat at any race we were entered into.  It was proof that under the right coach if a group of women work really hard they could accomplish anything.    
 
Were there any lessons learned through your experience that have helped you after you graduated?
The lessons I learned throughout my rowing career continue to guide me today.  Dedication, respect, teamwork, accountability and relationships that were built around a shared purpose have taught me so much.  My work environment relies strongly on all of these attributes.  It was true on Wall Street (my first career) and it is true as a Registered Nurse.  We work in a team environment that depends on the support of others, especially in times of crisis. I am so thankful for my time as a student athlete, as these qualities enable me to respect my team members, be accountable for my actions and most importantly, dedicated to my patients and my work.
 
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while being a student-athlete?
At times it was to hard balance practice, schoolwork and a social life.  My junior year our practice time changed to the afternoon, so we would be off campus from 3pm until almost 8pm, every night.  Then there was homework to be done.   There were times when I did feel I was missing out on campus.  But the reward of knowing we were working hard to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves, ultimately winning races, it was worth staying home!
 
Is there any advice you would give young people who are trying to balance academics and athletics today, given your experience?
There is no-doubt competitive sports teach us many life lessons.  We learn to respect our coaches, teammates and opponents.  Some of which we may have never known without sports.  We learn to respect the rules of the game, the tradition of the sport, the heroes that won and lost before us.  We learn to prioritize school, practice, friends and life.  As a mom of 3 young girls, all of whom are athletes, I am excited for them to someday use what they've learned on the field in their everyday practice. 
 
Susan Veteri Woods attended Fordham University from 1988-1992, graduating with a finance degree from the Gabelli School of Business.  She was a member of the Women's Rowing Team.  She worked in finance for 10 years following graduation at JP Morgan Chase and C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, a small technology investment-banking firm.  She left the business industry following the birth of her first child in 2002.  She has 3 daughters Charlotte (12), Catie (11) and Meredith (9) with her husband Brian.  She returned to school in 2007 to become an RN.  She currently works at Greenwich Hospital in Labor and Delivery.