Suzanne Williams
State Senate
Biography
GOVERNMENT:
Senator Suzanne Williams is beginning her fourth year in the State Senate after serving eight years in the Colorado House of Representatives. Senator Williams is the only registered American Indian state legislator in Colorado. Currently, she serves as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, the Legislative Chair for the Early Childhood Commission, is a member of the Education Committee, and is the Assistant Caucus Chair.
Over the past 10 years, Senator Suzanne Williams has sponsored successful legislation concentrating in the areas of education, children and family issues, as well as transportation, safety and planning. From her first bill signed in 1987, an anti-graffiti bill, Senator Williams has continued to support constituents and to strengthen the childcare community by carrying many bills through the Early Childhood Commission. 1Her Child Care Professionals Loan Forgiveness Program was enacted in 2001, helping child care professionals to attend community college to gain more skills. In 2005 Senator Williams assured the safety of communities by passing her sex offender registry bill and restricting passengers for new teen drivers. Her close Native American ties have inspired legislation for Native American education in the public schools, stronger state compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the American Indian Scholars license plate, which established a scholarship for Colorado Native American to attend a college or university within the state.
PERSONAL:
Senator Williams has lived in her district for over 30 years. Senator Williams has been married for over 40 years, has two grown children and four grandchildren. Senator Williams earned her B.S. from Baylor University and her Masters in Special Education from the University of Colorado. She enjoys reading, travel and athletic club workouts and many outdoor activities.
CAREER:
Senator Williams worked for 22 years as a special education teacher in the Cherry Creek School District.
CIVIC:
Senator Williams has been a member of the following Boards: D.A.R.E. Colorado, United Cerebral Palsy Association, Colorado Medicaid Consortium, Colorado Special Education Advisory Board, I-225 Policy Advisory Board, Aurora Sister Cities President, Sungate Foundation Advisory Board, and Co-chair of the Early Childcare and Education Commission.
Her awards and accomplishments include:
2007
Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Woman of the Year
2006
Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber Honoring Senator Suzanne Williams
Community Colleges, Legislator of the Year
“Ending Colonial Legacy” Honoring Women Warriors
SUNGATE Foundation “Champion of Children” Award
2004
Delta Kappa Gamma Friend of Education
Aurora Business and Professional Women-Sculptors of Aurora
2002
Denver Indian Chamber of Commerce
Denver Indian Family Resource Center
2001
American Institute of Architects, Legislator of the Year
Colorado Women's Lobby
2000
Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Optometric Association
Early Childhood Care and Education
1999
Hazel Petrocco Women's Leadership Award
1998
Colorado Association of School Nurses
Colorado Society of School Psychologists
Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children
1996
Colorado Mother of the Year
