Before beginning her teaching career, Susan Lawlor worked for 11 years as a graphic designer, holding positions including Creative Director for Fleishmann-Hillard, Inc., Public Relations, Woods Creative Group Marketing Communications, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her graphic design work has won national awards from the Public Relations Society of America, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the International Association of Business Communicators, as well as regional awards from the Kansas City Advertising Club and the Kansas City Art Director's Club.

Susan earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute. She also attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. Prior to joining the faculty at Avila University, she taught graphic design at the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Kansas.