A native of Arizona, Susan was educated at the University of Arizona, Principia College (B.A., 1969); University of Virginia (M.A., 1970); and Arizona State University (J.D., 1975).  She was affiliated with Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Alpha Eta and also received the J. P. Walker American History Award and the State Bar of Arizona Ethics Award.  She was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1976, U.S. Tax Court in 1977, and U.S. Supreme Court in 1980.  

Susan has been extremely active in many organizations since her admission to the Bar:  State Bar of Arizona (Chairman, Section of Taxation); Central Arizona Estate Planning Council (Director); American Bar Association's Section of Taxation (Chairman, Economics of Tax Practice Committee); American Bar Association's Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law); Member of the American Law Institute and served for several years as a Director for the Arizona Community Foundation.  Susan is an Accredited Estate Planning Specialist by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and has served on the Tax Advisory Commission for the Board of Legal Specialization for the State Bar of Arizona and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Samaritan Foundation where she served as Vice Chair and Chair of the Foundation’s Gift Planning Advisory Committee.  Susan is past Chair of the Valley Estate Planners where she was elected its first Lifetime Member in recognition of her contributions to the organization and the general field of Estate Planning. 

Susan serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Practical Tax Lawyer and has lectured frequently on behalf of the State Bar of Arizona, ALI-ABA, and most of the major tax institutes.  She has authored numerous books and articles, including the Estate Planning Practice Manual for the State Bar of Arizona. 

Susan is presently a member of the Executive Council of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and a past State Chair and Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

In addition to being a fellow in the American College of Tax Counsel, Susan is a Certified Specialist in both Tax Law and Estate and Trust Law by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization.  She has been listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who of American Women, The Best Lawyers in America as well as one of the Southwest’s Top 50 Super Lawyers.