Susan Brooks, Congressman, IN District 5
House links: Susan Brooks (R-IN-5)i 
Campaign links: Susan Brooks (R-IN-5)i
Susan Brooks Congressional Candidate Indiana District 5
Biography of Susan Brooks from House.gov
Congresswoman Susan Brooks represents the 5th District of Indiana, which spans eight diverse counties throughout the central part of the Hoosier State. As a new member of Congress, she currently serves on the Education and Workforce, Homeland Security and Ethics Committees. She is also the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.
Her strong background in both the public and private sectors includes experience as a proven difference maker in areas such as public safety, homeland security, counter-terrorism and economic development.
Job Creation
Before joining the House of Representatives, Susan served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Ivy Tech Community College. Collaborating with a wide network or stakeholders, she implemented workforce development strategies aiming to enhance job training and placement for thousands of Hoosier residents.
Public Service
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Susan as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for a majority of the Hoosier state, she received bi-partisan acclaim for efforts to battle mortgage fraud, gun violence, drug trafficking, gangs, child exploitation and identity theft.
Susan also earned recognition as Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis during the Steve Goldsmith administration, where she provided oversight on public safety operations and drove community dialogue on vital civic issues. Over her tenure, she managed police, fire and emergency response efforts while serving on boards related to criminal justice, community corrections, violence reduction and race relations.
Private Sector Experience
Susan practiced law at the Indianapolis firm of Ice Miller and also served as a criminal defense attorney for Indianapolis based McClure, McClure and Kammen.
Family & Education
After receiving her undergraduate degree from Miami University of Ohio, Susan pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. In May of 2013, Susan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Marian University in Indianapolis. She resides in Carmel, Indiana with her husband David and they have two young adult children.
Biography of Susan Brooks from Friends of Susan Brooks
Former U.S. Attorney Susan W. Brooks has extensive experience in the public and private sectors advocating for Hoosiers from all walks of life. As a lifelong resident of Indiana, she has devoted her career — as a lawyer, a local official, a federal prosecutor, and a workforce development leader — to develop and implement solutions related to public safety, homeland security and counter-terrorism, and job training and creation.
For the last four years, Susan served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Ivy Tech Community College. During that time, she led statewide workforce development strategies aimed at improving job training and placement for thousands of Indiana residents. Working with Indiana’s large and small businesses and the state’s unemployed and under-employed, Susan played an integral role in developing a trained workforce to attract and retain jobs and strengthen the state’s economy. As a workforce development leader in Indiana, she serves on the State Workforce Innovation Council, the BioCrossroadsLINX Board, the TechPoint board, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Ready Indiana Board, and the Indiana University Public Policy Institute.
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Susan as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, where she served for six years and rose quickly to a leadership advisory role with two U.S. Attorneys General. As the chief federal law enforcement officer for an area that covers two-thirds of Indiana, including the majority of the newly drawn 5th Congressional District, Susan earned praise from leaders in both parties for her efforts in battling mortgage fraud, gun violence, drug trafficking, gangs, child exploitation, and identity theft.
From 1998-99, Susan served as Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis under Mayor Steve Goldsmith, focused on public safety and social issues. In addition to oversight of police, fire, and emergency response activities, she represented the City of Indianapolis on numerous boards related to criminal justice, community corrections, violence reduction, race relations, and programs of the United Way of Central Indiana, among others.
From 1999-2001, Susan practiced law at the Indianapolis law firm of Ice Miller in the Government Services Practice Group. Brooks has also practiced as a criminal defense attorney at the Indianapolis law firm of McClure, McClure and Kammen in state and federal courts throughout Indiana.
Civic Responsibility
Susan has devoted countless volunteer hours to numerous civic and community efforts to improve the lives of Hoosier children and families, including service on the following boards: St. Vincent Hospital, the Children’s Museum, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, Indiana Youth Institute, Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis Board of Visitors, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Junior League of Indianapolis, and Carmel Library Foundation. She co-chaired the NCAA 2011 Women’s Final Four.
Awards
Throughout her career, Susan has received many awards for her accomplishments, including Who’s Who in Law in 2011, Influential Woman of Indianapolis in 2008 and 1999, the Touchstone Award from Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis in 2008, Sagamore of the Wabash in 2007, Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law in 2006, the 40 Under 40 List, Super Lawyer in 2004-2008, Who’s Who in Law in 2002, the Child Award from the Children’s Bureau, Inc., and the Education Award from the YMCA.
Education
Indiana University Indianapolis School of Law, J.D.
Miami University of Ohio, B.A.
Personal
Brooks, age 51, was born and raised in Ft. Wayne, the daughter of Robert and Marilyn Wiant and graduate of Homestead High School. She has lived in Indiana her entire life, except to attend undergraduate college at Miami University in Ohio. She currently resides in Carmel with her husband, David, and two children.