The woman behind the vision.
Her history on Sesame Street and her continued commitment to education and lifelong learning are the inspiration for the Dream Releaser.
Dr. Loretta Long, who played the role of Susan on Sesame Street
For generations of children, Dr. Long was a trusted, encouraging presence in their homes. The Dream Releaser connects her history on Sesame Street with her continued commitment to education and lifelong learning.
Her personal story and career are the inspiration behind every part of this vision: the centers, the celebrations, and the belief that every person has the potential to make an impact.
From Paw Paw, Michigan to Sesame Street and beyond
Actress, singer, educator, and author, and the original Susan Robinson.
Overview
Dr. Loretta Long (born October 4, 1938) is an American actress, singer, and educator. She is globally renowned for playing Susan Robinson on the landmark children’s television series Sesame Street. As an original 1969 cast member, she spent nearly five decades on the show, using her platform to advance childhood development and representation.
Early Life & Education
Born Loretta Mae Moore in Paw Paw, Michigan, she grew up with a passion for teaching and the performing arts. She attended Western Michigan University, earning her undergraduate degree in education. In 1973, she completed a Ph.D. in Urban Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her doctoral dissertation analyzed Sesame Street’s ‘space age’ approach to early childhood learning.
The Sesame Street Legacy
Dr. Long broke into public television as a co-host of the soul-music and cultural variety program Soul! on WNET in 1968. While working as a substitute teacher in New York City, she auditioned for Sesame Street. During her audition, she sang ‘I’m a Little Teapot’ directly into the camera, sparking an immediate reaction from a test audience of toddlers.
When the show debuted in 1969, Dr. Long and her on-screen husband, Gordon, became the first Black married couple featured as regulars on an American television series. Her character, Susan, evolved over forty-seven years from a traditional housewife into a nurse and working mother. She also voiced early Muppet characters, including Roosevelt Franklin’s mother and Suzetta Something.
Beyond the Street
Throughout her life, Dr. Long balanced her television career with academic and community leadership. She remains a respected educational consultant, a public speaker on early literacy and media education, and a published author whose autobiography is titled My Best Friends Call Me Susan.
“It’s not too late. Dreams don’t have an expiration date.”
Her story is the blueprint.
Dr. Long's history on Sesame Street and her lifelong commitment to education shape how the Dream Releaser works and who it serves.
A trusted presence
As Susan on Sesame Street, Dr. Long taught and encouraged generations of children in their own living rooms.
A lifelong educator
Her commitment to education never stopped at the screen. The Dream Releaser carries that commitment into centers, classrooms, and the app.
An inspiration for the next generation
Her personal story and career show that every person has the potential to make an impact and build a legacy that helps others.
Moments from a life of teaching.
Photographs from Dr. Long's personal collection, her book, and the communities she has served. Click any photo to view it larger.
Have a photo with Dr. Long? Share it with your story.
My Best Friends Call Me Susan
Dr. Long's book is a source of photographs, memories, stories, and historical context for the Dream Releaser vision. It carries the people, places, and moments that shaped her, and it anchors the stories the Dream Releaser will preserve for the next generation.
- Photographs and memories from Dr. Long's life and career
- Stories that provide the historical context for the Dream Releaser
- A foundation for the Legacy Center and the stories feature
My Best Friends Call Me Susan
Did Dr. Long impact your life?
Share your story. It may be featured here and inspire someone else.