Susan’s journey with clay began in her senior year of high school, where she immediately fell in love with the medium. She pursued this passion academically, earning a BFA from West Virginia University and an MFA from Ohio University. After graduating, she taught at the Spirit Square Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, while actively exhibiting in juried shows and selling her work at art fairs.

In 1993, following the birth of her daughter, Susan chose a career path that required less travel. She earned her real estate license and became a Relocation Corporate Accounts Manager for a major real estate firm, coordinating group moves for companies throughout the Charlotte region. She later transitioned into real estate sales, specializing in relocation clients and seniors.

By 2020, Susan felt something was missing and realized it was clay. She returned to her artistic roots as a studio potter at SASi (The Southern Arts Society) in Kings Mountain, rekindling her creative practice. She retired from real estate in 2021 and moved to Tryon with her husband Doug and their dog, Casey. Today, she calls Tryon and the Tryon Arts & Crafts School home—and has joyfully rediscovered the missing piece in clay.