Susan Brown

Susan Brown is a Distinguished Research Professor and Director of the Center for Family & Demographic Research (CFDR) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she also co-directs the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University in 1998. Her work focuses on family dynamics across the life course, particularly cohabitation trajectories, marital quality, and the social implications of late-life divorce (gray divorce). She has pioneered research on how family structure and transitions affect adult and child well-being, with a special emphasis on socioeconomic disparities.

Dr. Brown’s research integrates demographic, sociological, and policy perspectives. Key themes include the rise of midlife marriages, the psychological impacts of marital dissolution in later life, and the evolving role of family networks in aging populations. She frequently collaborates with institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Census Bureau, contributing to datasets such as the Add Health Study.

• Leadership Roles: CFDR Director, Co-Director of National Center for Family and Marriage Research
• Key Projects: Analysis of gray divorce trends, midlife relationship quality, and grandparenthood’s role in marital stability
• Affiliations: BGSU College of Arts & Sciences, multiple federal research partnerships

Her work has been featured in venues like Journal of Marriage and Family, Demography, and Gerontologist. She advises policymakers on family policy reforms and frequently presents at conferences such as the Population Association of America.