Meet PPDA Board Member Susan Marlowe

The Patriots Point Development Authority (PPDA) Board, in conjunction with the Patriots Point Executive Director, is responsible for the long-term planning and day-to-day management of the agency, including the museum and all of its ancillary services. This includes stewardship of over 350 acres of property on Charleston Harbor, much of which is currently under lease for a golf course, a hotel, and a collegiate athletic complex.

The PPDA Board is made up of nine members. Selection of three members of the Board, including its chairman, is at the discretion of the governor; four appointed members are legislatively mandated, appointed by a combination of the Speaker of the House, Senate Pro Tem and Senate Finance Chairman; one member is appointed by The Adjutant General; and the Mayor of the Town of Mount Pleasant serves as an ex-officio member. This Board meets regularly to approve strategic planning initiatives, revisions to development plans and contracts, long-term leases, etc.

•Wayne Adams, Vice Chairman •Susan Marlowe •Darwin H. Simpson •George "Pat" Waters •Zeb C. Williams •Mayor Will Haynie, Ex Officio

In each newsletter, we will introduce a member (or members) of our Board. Our next profile is of Susan Marlowe. Ms. Marlowe serves as chair of the Education, Camping and Museum Services Committee and is a member of the Development Committee.

Susan Marlowe has been involved the arts and education communities in the Lowcountry since her graduation from the College of Charleston in Fine Arts in 1976. Her 28 year teaching career started in Mount Pleasant, SC,

where she taught visual arts classes and in the gifted/talented program. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities. In addition to teaching in the Charleston County Schools District, she is a portrait artist has painted over 300 private commissions. She has also painted a series of limited edition historical prints and portraits of famous Southerners. During her teaching career, Susan was appointed to serve on the SC Education Oversight Committee (EOC) as Education Designee of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. By virtue of her service on the EOC, she also served on the Board of the SC Governor’s School of the Arts in Greenville. School policy, accountability, and charter schools are of particular interest. Susan also worked with the Teaching Fellows Program at the College of Charleston. She is the President of the Patriot Art Foundation and a Board Member of the National Special Forces Charitable Trust.

Susan serves on the Executive Board of the Congressional Medal of Honor Heritage Center and and is a member of the Patriots Point Foundation. Susan and her husband, Bobby Marlowe, are very involved at the College of Charleston. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and both are active alumni. They are members of the 1770 Society, Friends of the Library, and Golden Cougar Club. They, along with their son Cooper, are major donors to the new basketball arena. The Marlowes are members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church and live in Mount Pleasant.  Susan's appointment to the Patriots Point Development Authority Board is currently through the designee of the Chairman of the SC Senate Finance Committee.