FASD United Board Member

Susan Shepard Carlson, J.D., is the former board chair (2023-2024), and current leader of the FASD United Policy Team which successfully piloted the passage of the FASD Respect Act in December 2025. 

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 MN Governor’s Taskforce on FAS that resulted in almost $7 million annual funding for FASD prevention and intervention services and support in Minnesota.

For almost 3 decades, she has led FASD policy, advocacy, and training efforts on the national level as a 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) and was recently inducted into the FASD United Affiliate Emeriti Circle Membership. 

Susan rejoined the FASD United Board in 2026 and currently serves as chair of the Governance Committee. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a JD from Hamline University of Law (now Mitchell Hamline).