Susan M. Larsen, associate professor of human services and Titan alumna, died Jan. 7 of cancer at the age of 49.
Larsen received her bachelor of science degree in human services from Cal State Fullerton in 1994, her master of social work degree from Cal State Long Beach in 1996 and her doctorate in education, with an emphasis in cross-cultural studies and special populations, from Claremont Graduate University in 2001.
Her research areas included social work, child abuse, foster care, domestic violence, counseling, psychiatric disorders and persons with disabilities.
Larsen, whose son was diagnosed with autism when he was 18 months, wrote her doctoral dissertation on the disorder and volunteered countless hours with organizations serving adults and children with disabilities. In 2007, she shared her passion for volunteering with adults who have autism, saying, “They help me more than I help them.”
She is survived by her children, Blakely, Parker and Tatum Larsen; her sister, Kris, and brother, Steven.