Susan is a 1000-plus hour instrument-rated pilot who has flown her Cessna 182 for SouthWings since 1999.  She lives in Bristol, VA, with her husband Jim.  They have two grown childen, Beth and John.  A PhD biochemist who has worked in enzymology and cancer research, Susan has also taught various pre-med chemistry courses and still teaches in winter at the Southwestern VA Higher Education Center as a volunteer.

Susan learned to fly after she fell in love with small airplanes while riding in a Cessna float plane during a cruise in Alaska with her children in 1992.  She learned about SouthWings in an interview with Harvard Ayers of Appalachian Voices on a local public radio station, and she responded enthusiastically when Hume Davenport called her to volunteer.

Susan says this about her work with SouthWings:  “I love enabling the wonderful folks that fly with me to do good work for the environment.  I love meeting them and in many cases, forming long term friendships.  I love what I have learned about environmental issues. 

Susan loves classical music and opera, traveling with Jim, working in the yard, old houses, the beach, and a wonderful growing family.