Susan Allen (née Brown; born 1964) is an American author, political consultant, and talk radio host. She served as First Lady of Virginia from 1994 to 1998 as the wife of Governor George Allen.
Susan Allen | |
|---|---|
.JPEG) Susan Allen in July 1996 | |
| First Lady of Virginia | |
| In office January 15, 1994 – January 17, 1998 | |
| Governor | George Allen |
| Preceded by | Office Vacant (1990–1994) |
| Succeeded by | Roxane Gilmore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Susan Brown 1964 (age 59–60) Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse | George Allen (m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina |
Early life and family
editAllen was born Susan Brown in 1964 in Florida. She was raised in Virginia, with her family moving to Albemarle County after her father's service as a Marine Corps pilot during the Vietnam War.[1] She graduated from the University of South Carolina.[2]
In 1986, she married George Allen.[3] They have three children[4] and reside in the Virginia Beach area.[5][1]
Career
editAllen worked in the hospitality industry, including as a hotel marketing director.[2] Allen actively supported and campaigned for her husband throughout his political career and various campaigns for Congress, Governor, and the U.S. Senate, and has been described as his "secret weapon."[3][5] She also authored an illustrated children's picture book about the life and career of Ronald Reagan, published by Regnery Publishing.[6][7][8]
First Lady of Virginia
editAllen became First Lady of Virginia in January 1994 upon her husband becoming the 67th governor of Virginia. As first lady, Allen was an active advocate for tourism in the state, children's issues, and drug intervention programs.[5][9] As first lady, she appeared in national television commercials to promote family getaways in Virginia.[5] Allen created the "Celebrate Virginia" campaign which promoted historic sites, main streets, and small towns in Virginia.[1]
While First Lady, Allen also established the "First Lady's Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative," and co-chaired the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness with Denise Austin.[10][1]
In 1994, Allen represented Virginia on a trade and tourism mission to South Africa.[2] Allen represented Virginia on other trade missions in Asia, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. While First Lady, Allen chaired the Virginia Capitol Foundation and led the effort to place women's statues on the Capitol Grounds.[1]
Post-First Lady
editIn the 2008 Presidential Election, Allen chaired "Women for McCain" in Virginia. During the Republican Party of Virginia convention in May 2008, Allen gave the nominating speech for John Hager for state party chair.[11] In 2008, Allen hosted a weekly talk radio program on WDBT[12] and has written and co-written political editorials.[1][13][14]
She is an active campaigner and owns and operates SBA Concepts, LLC, a political consultancy.[15][16] Her clients have included Anne Ferrell Tata, the Campaign for Honest Change, and her husband's campaign committees.[17] In 2010, she was the chairwoman of the Republican Women's Federal Forum.
Allen served as co-chair on the inaugural committee for Virginia governor Bob McDonnell in 2009–10. She was also a founding member of the Jennifer Byler Institute. In 2012, Allen was appointed to the board of James Madison University. In the 2012 presidential election, she chaired "Women for Romney" in Virginia.[1]
In 2013, Governor McDonnell appointed Allen to the Citizens' Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion.[18] In 2014, Allen was a member of a delegation led by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that traveled to Taiwan to compile the report "Taiwan's Marginalized Role in International Security."[19]
In 2023, Allen was appointed to the board of visitors of Old Dominion University by Governor Glenn Youngkin.[1][16] In the same year, she was also appointed to the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation.[20][15] Allen also serves on the board of the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation and the American Veterans Center.[1]
During the 2024 United States presidential election, Allen served on the board of "Moms for Safe Neighborhoods," a PAC supporting Donald Trump.[21][22]
Published works
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Susan Allen". Old Dominion University. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b c "Susan Allen Labors To Define Her Role". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b "George Allen's Secret Weapon: Susan Allen". Greater Alexandria, VA Patch. 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "George Allen". National Governors Association. 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b c d Winston, Bonnie V. (January 15, 1994). "Susan Allen Envisions a Cleaver 1st Family". The Roanoke Times. pp. B1.
- ^ a b "The remarkable Ronald Reagan : Cowboy and Commander in Chief / by Susan Allen; illustrated by Leslie Harrington". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "The Remarkable Ronald Reagan - Cowboy and Commander in Chief". Regnery Publishing. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "C-SPAN Book TV Interview - Susan Brown Allen". www.c-span.org. July 22, 2013. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ The Free Lance-Star. The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ "A Guide to the Scheduling Office Records of Virginia Governor George F. Allen, 1993-1998 Allen, George F., Virginia Governor, Scheduling Office Records 35865". ead.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "GALLERY: Susan Allen". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Tuesday, November 10, 2020". Point of View. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Former First Lady Turned Author Susan Allen". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Susan Allen's talk to be broadcast Sunday". NewsAdvance.com. 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b "Governor Glenn Youngkin | Governor.Virginia.gov". www.governor.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b "Governor Appoints Four New Members to ODU's Board of Visitors". Old Dominion University. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Expenditures by Service: Staff/Consultants". www.vpap.org. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Bill Tracking - 2014 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ Glaser, Bonnie S.; Vitello, Jacqueline A. (2015-01-21). Taiwan's Marginalized Role in International Security: Paying a Price. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-4060-5.
- ^ "Associated Boards & Foundations". www.dcr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Moms for Safe Neighborhoods". www.momsforsafeneighborhoods.com. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Grassroots Leadership Board". www.momsforsafeneighborhoods.com. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ Allen, Susan (2013-06-17). The Remarkable Ronald Reagan: Cowboy and Commander in Chief. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-62157-056-1.