Email: susan@patch.com
Phone: 410-419-3338
Hometown: Tabb, VA, and Annapolis, MD
Birthday: Nov. 11

Susan is the founding editor of Greater Annapolis Patch, launched in September 2010 as the first of 10 sites in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She now works for Patch as an Associate Regional Editor. Prior to joining Patch, she worked for The Washington Times newspaper and locally as the editor of Chesapeake Family magazine. She and her family have lived in Annapolis since 2001. Susan has a master's degree in journalism from American University and a bachelor's degree in speech communication from George Mason University.

She recently realized that she's spent more time living in Annapolis than any other place, having lived in the Annapolis suburbs since 2001. Susan also lived in Walden in Crofton and South River Colony in Edgewater so she's been in Anne Arundel County since 1995. Susan went to high school in Tabb, VA, which isn't really a town but an unincorporated community near Yorktown, and considers it her hometown only because her parents still live there. (They are hoping there will be a Tabb Patch someday.) She is the daughter of a retired Air Force colonel and appreciates growing up in the military lifestyle.

Susan met her husband when they were in college and they have two daughters and a son who attend Anne Arundel County public schools. She spends all of her free time driving kids around or watching them play various sports.

Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.

This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user of this site, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics
*How would you describe your political beliefs?

I try to keep an open mind and consider both sides of issues.

*Are you registered with a certain party?

I am registered as a Republican, which is going to surprise some people who know me.

Religion
*What are your religious beliefs?

I am a Christian. Growing up, my parents took me to Presbyterian and Baptist churches. My family and I currently attend a Baptist church in the city of Annapolis.

Local Hot-Button Issues
*What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

Schools are a big concern in terms of quality (especially at the middle schools but at the high school too) and overcrowding/large class sizes at the elementary level. Development and real estate are hot-button issues because many people fear how a commercial collapse would impact our community. Everyone in the area is watching home prices, which seem to be stable for the first time in several years.

*Where do you stand on each of these issues?

As a parent, I try to stay involved with the schools and I think that there are a lot of problems. I've seen class sizes increase and I think that larger classes create more stress for both teachers and students. The middle schools are slowly making progress but it feels like they are taking one step forward and two steps back every year. I'm encouraged by what I've seen at Annapolis High and I hope that things continue to improve there.

Regarding new development, I live near Annapolis Towne Centre and thought traffic was going to be an issue when it opened. It hasn't been a problem for me and I enjoy the convenience of having a Target nearby (although I can't seem to go in there and buy just one thing). However, it is worrisome to go to other shopping centers in the area and see vacant stores. There seems to be so much new development that I wonder how the community will support it in the future.

I'll be covering the local housing market because it's something I'm interested in (my husband is in the mortgage business) and I've written about real estate, home design and building for other publications.