Susan Marine moved to Denver in 1975 after completing her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Minnesota. As a faculty member of Colorado’s medical school, she taught about the social determinants of health (which included culture, ethnicity, and social class). She moved to Boulder in 1981 and worked for the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education and thereafter consulted with various foundations.

Because of her belief in the importance of public education, Susan served 10 years on the BVSD Board of Education. Her daughter attended BV schools and graduated from Boulder High School. She has a longstanding interest in socio-cultural differences and a strong commitment to diversity and equity. She also has a history of voluntarism, including serving as chair of the board of Mental Health Partners. More recently, she has worked as an advocate for suicide prevention and has helped pass several pieces of legislation. Her advocacy work has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels.