Susan Sowards, Principal Planner, is a member of LCOG's planning and resource development staff. In her capacity as grant writer, Susan has leveraged over $45.3 million for LCOG, partner agencies, and others since she joined the LCOG staff. In addition to grant writing, she facilitates and manages planning, implementation, and evaluation projects. Susan is also the Systems Analyst for the Lane County Public Safety Coordinating Council and its committees. She joined the LCOG staff in 1996.

Susan has an MS in Education from the University of Oregon and a BS in English from Ohio University. Prior to working at LCOG, Susan was Youth Development Coordinator for Lane County for seven years, providing professional staff support to the Commission on Children and Families and its predecessor, the Youth Development Commission. Before that she was a Research Associate Faculty member at the Univ. of Oregon, serving as professional staff and advisor for the student government and its programs.  email