An adjunct progessor of sociology at Chapman University since 2002, Susan M. Larsen, Ph.D., passed away Jan. 7 following a recurrence of cancer. She was 49.
“A respected and caring instructor, Dr. Larsen was also deeply committed to volunteer work with adults and children with disabilities,” said Edward Day, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Sociology at Chapman. “Her research areas included social work, child abuse, foster care, domestic violence, counseling, psychiatric disorders and persons with disabilities. Chapman University was privileged to have her work with so many of our students during the last decade and a half, and we mourn her loss.”
Larsen also taught at Cal State Fullerton, where she was an associate professor of human services. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Fullerton in 1994, a master’s in social work from Cal State Long Beach in 1996 and a doctorate in education from Claremont Graduate University in 2001, focusing on crosscultural studies and special populations.
Among Larsen’s ventures outside the classroom was a restaurant named after her son, Blakely, who has autism. The business sought to place special-needs individuals in roles such as greeters or bus staff, and relied heavily on college students for its
other employees.
Larsen is survived by her children, Blakely, Parker and Tatum Larsen, as well as a sister, Kris, and brother, Steven.
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