Susie Conley has a B.S. in General Science from the University of Oregon, a B.S. in Biology from Washington State University – Vancouver, and a Master of Education from Washington State University – Vancouver.

Prior to joining Oregon Sea Grant, she served as the Operations Specialist at INTO OSU. Earlier in her career, she was a teacher at Camas High School in Washington State, where she taught AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Biology/Zoology. During her last two years at Camas High, she was the co-department head of the science department. Additionally, she advised AWSEM (Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Math), a club dedicated to promoting women's participation and advancement in STEM fields. In collaboration with the environmental club, they secured a grant to purchase and install solar panels on the high school roof.

Before her tenure at Camas High, she worked at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver, Washington. There, she taught water quality classes, conducted water quality measurements, and managed a large sturgeon tank.