Sumac is Sudha McFadden.

Economist, artist, educator and Sumac founder Sudha McFadden encountered the power of creative expression at first hand while striving for a full life despite Addison’s Disease. Realizing that medicine alone couldn’t solve the problem of a life-threatening autoimmune condition made worse by stress, Sudha realized that she was at the center of her well-being. After tuning in to her creative spirit to bring about profound healing, she founded Sumac to bring the benefits of creativity to others battling stress of all kinds, starting at home in South Carolina. 

Sumac now reaches people across the Southeast through innovative programming that brings people together over art, music, and other creative outlets. Every event, training, and coaching session is geared toward alleviating stress to make room for well-being, creativity and innovation. Sumac stands for the power of creativity to be a force for a better world.

STRESS

EXPERT

Sudha is an expert in stress management. She has done award-winning work with diverse populations undergoing severe stress including refugees, gender-based violence survivors, and at-risk youth. She has received several grants at home as well as internationally to further her global outreach and advocacy work.

BEHAVIORAL

ECONOMIST

Behavioral economics is the study of how and why we make the decisions we do. After studying at Duke University in North Carolina and University College Dublin in Ireland, Sudha’s research has focused on how to cultivate an ecosystem where mindset and environmental factors combine for a culture of flourishing.

ARTIST &

MUSICIAN

After over two decades playing and teaching piano, guitar, and other melodic instruments, Sudha has now turned her musical talent toward both tuned and untuned percussive instruments like gongs and singing bowls. An artist at heart, Sudha has traveled to India and Ireland to study ancient artistic traditions. She was selected to participate in poetry readings and workshops with prolific poets like Seamus Heaney and Kwame Dawes. Sudha has most recently worked as a Montessori art and music guide, instituting cultural curriculum in rural schools and carrying out one-to-one and small group lessons with children of all ages.

COMMUNITY

ADVOCATE

Community advocacy is Sudha’s heart, and she brings decades of experience in community development to her work with Sumac. She has led workshops on health and well-being for refugees and asylum seekers, contributed research in the effort to pass national legislation prohibiting specific acts of violence against women and girls, and dedicated years to volunteering for child development programs. Her award-winning advocacy work has touched lives across several continents. In each project that Sudha takes on, global welfare is the driving force behind it all.

  • "Someone truly extraordinary."

  • "She possesses a quiet presence and poise."

  • "A talented gem."

  • "Radical ideas."