Susan served from 1990-1997, the last two years as chairperson, on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education
Susan was elected to the Charlotte City Council at Large in 1999, and has served as Mayor Pro Tem for six years
Appointed by then Lt. Governor Bev Perdue, Susan served for six years as Chairperson of the NC Teaching Fellows Commission
Susan chaired the City Council Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee
Susan served on the Transportation, Environment, and Government Affairs Committees.
Susan was the Council representative to the Centralina Council of Government
Susan was on the Board of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership
Susan was on the Planning Coordinating Committee of Charlotte Mecklenburg
Susan was the alternate representative to the Mecklenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Organization
During its centennial year in 2008, Susan served as President of the North Carolina League of Municipalities
Susan served for two years on the Board of the National League of Cities and has been appointed to the Advisory Council.
Susan was the President of Women in Municipal Government, a constituency group of the NLC.
Susan was the immediate past chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Conference, a nationwide organization of mayors and city council members.
Susan served on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee. Susan was a committeewoman representing North Carolina for a four year term
Susan represented North Carolina as a Superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008
Susan was on the Executive Committees of the NC Democratic Party and Mecklenburg County Democratic Party
Susan was active in the Democratic Leadership Council and served on the Local Elected Officials Network
Susan was an ordained elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church
Susan was past president of the Rotary Club of Charlotte-South
Susan was a graduate of Leadership Charlotte Class VIII
Susan was a presenter of the Inconvenient Truth, trained by the Climate Project president, Al Gore