A 1969 graduate of Lincoln High School, Susan Vaughn presently is director of external development for Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. She has been affiliated with the organization 15 years.

Vaughn develops and executes development strategies supporting the growth of Mead Johnson. She also leads cross-functional teams to identify, screen, and evaluate strategic opportunities. She provides networking within Mead Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the nutritional supplement industry on a global basis.

This year Vaughn received the company's President's Award for profitably licensing Mead Johnson trademarks to Novartis in Australia. She earned the same award in 1999 for negotiating an investment in Sherbrooke Capital, a venture capital fund focused on health and wellness. She worked with General Mills to develop a concept enabling strategic partners to participate in investment decisions. Subsequently other investors, including Coca-Cola, Ralston Purina, and pension fund administrators, contributed to the Sherbrooke enterprise. This endeavor is an ongoing source of business opportunities for Mead Johnson.

In earlier professional activity Vaughn was a pharmaceutical representative for Sterling Drug Company, a senior consultant with Boston Biomedical Consultants, marketing manager for Bio-Dynamics, and a marketing analyst for Eli Lilly and Company.

She earned a bachelor's degree in French from DePauw University in 1973 and a master's degree in marketing from Indiana University in 1979.

In community activity, Vaughn received a Patriot Award for developing the Vaughn Walking Trail in Gregg Park in honor of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. W. R. Vaughn. Her sister Becky and brother Bill co-funded the project, which was matched with a grant from the State of Indiana. She is a member of Methodist Temple.

Vaughn has served on several boards, including Evansville Christian Life Center, where she also is a member of the development committee; Charter Hospital; and Tales & Scales music troupe.