Susan Shepard Carlson, J.D. – is the past chair of the FASD United Legislative and Policy Committee.  In addition to serving as Minnesota’s First Lady from 1991-1999, she is an attorney and a retired Hennepin County, MN Juvenile District Court judicial officer. It was through her experience in juvenile court and leadership on the Governor’s Taskforce on FAS that resulted in almost $7 million annual funding for FASD prevention and intervention services and support in Minnesota.

Over 2 ½ decades, she has led FASD policy, advocacy and training efforts on the national level as member of the ICCFASD Justice Work Group which led the effort in getting an ABA (American Bar Association) FASD resolution adopted in 2012.  Other FASD achievements include:  author of “Tools for Success” – a training guide for Juvenile Justice professionals; facilitator of a “Train the Trainers” model based on the guide and a curriculum developed by the FASD Center for Excellence; and, Program Director of a FASD screening pilot program for adjudicated juveniles in Hennepin County, MN, District Court.  She is the founder of the first state affiliate, MOFAS (now Proof Alliance). Susan rejoined the FASD United Board in 2018 to provide leadership on the reauthorization of federal FASD programs, known as the FASD Respect Act.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a JD from Hamline University of Law.

Committees and Roles

• Executive Committee, Chair
• Governance Committee, Ex-Officio
• Finance Committee, Ex-Officio
• Development Committee, Ex-Officio
• Policy Committee, Ex-Officio

BOD Current