"NAKED & AFRAID" SURVIVOR, MOM & BIOSCIENCES EXEC - SUZANNE ZETA

Suzänne Zeta dropped out of high school and left her home in Missouri at age 16 to escape a very unhealthy homelife. Today, she holds a BS in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University, an MBA in Healthcare Management from University of Phoenix, and a PhD in Health Related Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is formerly a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator at the VCU School of Medicine, and currently serves as VP of Operations for VBHRC Virginia Catalyst. 

As a child, Suzänne had to learn how to take care of herself and how to survive on her own. Last year she decided to see just how strong her survival skills were and she applied to be a cast member on the Discovery Channel's reality show called "Naked and Afraid". Each episode documents the lives of two survivalists (1 man; 1 woman) who meet for the first time and attempt survive a stay in the wilderness for 21 days. The partners are dropped in a isolated wilderness area without clothing, food, water, or shelter.

Suzänne was selected for the show and was dropped into a remote part of Brazil where she battled the heat, hostile wasps, a poisonous frog, and 17 days without a partner to complete the 21 day challenge. Her episode, called "Pick Your Poison", ran on Mother's Day of last year. (She has four boys). 

At our July breakfast, Dr. Suzänne Zeta will tell us about her journey from dropout to  PhD, about her 21  days "naked and afraid", and about what challenges she is tackling next.

OUR HOST
Ashland Theater

The Ashland Theatre originally opened its doors in what Ashland residents call “the Center of the Universe” in 1948, and it operated as movie theater for nearly 50 years. In 2013, owners Jean and AD Whittaker donated the Theatre to the Town of Ashland. In 2017, a complete renovation and overhaul of the theatre began and Ashland Theatre officially re-opened December 26, 2018.

The Ashland Theatre is operated by the Ashland Theatre Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to reinvent the classic American movie house experience through exceptional film, live performances and music as well as speakers, panels, talkbacks and events that entertain, educate, inspire and are welcoming to all. 

The Theatre is invested in the Ashland community and offers special programs including Ausome Afternoons, a free monthly movie with special adaptations for sensory-friendly viewing for families with children on the autism spectrum.