Susan L. Brown

Susan L. Brown is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Sociology. She also serves as Director of the Center for Family and Demographic Research and Co-Director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research. Her expertise spans family sociology, demography, union dynamics, and their implications for well-being across the life course. She holds a PhD and MA from Penn State University and a BA from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Brown’s research focuses on cohabitation, marriage, divorce, and their societal impacts, particularly among older adults. Her work has been supported by grants from NICHD and NIA, and she authored Families in America (UC Press). Key areas include gray divorce, family instability, and the evolving nature of partnerships in later life. She has also explored income pooling, relationship quality, and family complexity.

Her awards include the NICHD Career Development Award, NIA grants, and the Olscamp Research Award. She actively disseminates findings through media outlets like The Washington Post, New York Times, and NPR, addressing topics such as cohabitation trends, aging relationships, and family policy implications.

Dr. Brown’s grants and collaborative projects emphasize policy-relevant research, including studies on marital dissolution, repartnering, and family well-being. She advises students through her academic role and leads initiatives to translate research into actionable insights for families and policymakers.