Susan Bass Levin
Susan Bass Levin | |
|---|---|
| Born | New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, public official |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Mayor of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; First Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; President and CEO of the Cooper Foundation |
Susan Bass Levin currently holds the position of President and CEO at the Cooper Foundation, which is part of the Cooper University Health System. A member of the Democratic Party in New Jersey, she has a notable public service record including her role as First Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ). Additionally, she served as Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) beginning in 2002 under Governors Jim McGreevey, Dick Codey, and Jon Corzine. Prior to these roles, Bass Levin was the Mayor of Cherry Hill, New Jersey from 1988 until 2002.
Life and career
Bass Levin earned her degrees from the University of Rochester and later from the George Washington University Law School.
During her tenure as Mayor of Cherry Hill in 1996, she participated in the Electoral College as a New Jersey elector, casting her vote for the Clinton/Gore presidential ticket.
As a Democrat, she sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, challenging incumbent H. James Saxton in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district but was defeated, securing 42% of the vote. Saxton stepped down in 2009, and Bass Levin’s colleague John Adler was elected to succeed him.
On May 21, 2007, Governor Jon S. Corzine appointed her to serve as First Deputy Executive Director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, in June 2007, Corzine also appointed her to a five-year term on the New Jersey Local Finance Board, which is responsible for supervising local government financial management and debt issuance within the state.