A respected authority on education and work, parental involvement and the career planning needs of young people, Susan has authored Help! I’ve got a Middle Schooler, Help! A Families Guide to High School, and Did Somebody Say College (with Jo Cripps). Her newest book and workshop, The Shocking Truth about Education and Work: Living, Learning and Earning in America explores where jobs come from, where we work, what we earn and why we earn it, suggesting that we need to be more informed and more honest about the education-career connection. Dr. Q. has given hundreds of presentations and workshops to parents, K-12 and community college educators and administrators, and business and community groups throughout the nation.

Her various academic and professional appointments include: Associate Dean of Instruction at Everett Community College, Everett, Washington, Director of Evening Vocational Programs at Lake Washington Technical College, Kirkland, Washington, and a variety of leadership positions in youth employment and training programs in Michigan. She has lectured at Wayne State University in Detroit and developed the Teen Career Exploration website for the Public Broadcasting System, which ran for four years and motivated thousands of teens to communicate with her by e-mail. Susan also created seven National Public Radio commentaries on teen employment and postsecondary education.

On a more personal note, Dr. Q. raised five children and worked full-time while earning her M.A. and Ph. D, in Education from the University of Michigan.