Born and raised in Grand Falls-Windsor, Susan is fiercely proud of her hometown and its rich legacy of social, cultural, and economic leadership.

Susan has a Bachelor of Arts (French Major) and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University. She has a Masters of Education (Literacy) from Mount St. Vincent University and a French Immersion Diploma from l'Université Laval.

Susan retired in June of 2007 after devoting 30 years to teaching. For the last seven years, Susan worked as the French Department Head for the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation where she taught Senior High French to all parts of the province via the internet. Throughout her career, she served on numerous policy, advisory and curriculum committees for the province and the Atlantic region.

In the 2005 municipal election, Susan was elected Deputy Mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor. As Deputy Mayor, she has served as Chair of the Public Works and Engineering Committee and the 2006 Salmon Festival. She is a member of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee, the Finance and Human Resources Committee, and the Post Secondary Education Committee. She is also a director for the EXCITE Corporation and a board member of the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation where she serves on the Municipalities Committee as well as the Education and IT Committees.

As a community volunteer, Susan has coached and adjudicated speech classes for the Kiwanis Music Festival, been a member of two school councils, was the founder and president of a parent support group for the Guiding Association of Canada, and served as Chair of her Parish Council and Co-Chair of the Atlantic Liturgical Congress. Recently, she served as Program Chairperson for the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor's 2005 Centennial Celebrations, chairing a variety of subcommittees most notably Founders' Days and the Gordon Pinsent Tribute Events.

Susan was elected in the deferred general election in Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans district on November 6, 2007.

Susan has 3 children. Her oldest daughter, Joanne, has a BBA from Acadia University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie. Her son, Michael, is beginning his third year at MUN, and her youngest daughter, Lesley, is completing a Science Degree at MUN.