Susan Belhke Foley, Attorney, Retired

Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Susan earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from Whitman College. She received her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. Susan began her law practice in Fairbanks before moving to Anchorage. In 1987, she formed the Law Office of Susan B. Foley and became a founding shareholder of Foley & Foley, P.C. with her husband Richard, in 1988.

Throughout her career, Susan focused her practice on estate planning and probate matters. In 2016, Susan retired from the firm and the practice of law to accept the position as President and Chief Development Officer for the University of Alaska Foundation.

Susan was active in philanthropic and charitable organizations throughout her legal career and completed the Foraker Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program. She served as a member of the board of directors of the Alaska Community Foundation from 2005-2014 and was board chair 2011-2012. In 2012, Susan was a nominee for the Alaska First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Award. The Alaska Association of Fundraising Professionals selected her as its Alaska Volunteer in Philanthropy for 2014. Susan served as the interim President of the Alaska Community Foundation in 2015. In addition to volunteering for numerous legal clinics, Susan also served on the Planned Giving Goals and Visioning Committee for United Way of Anchorage, the Anchorage YWCA’s Development Committee and the School Board of Grace Christian School.

Susan is a member and past president of the Anchorage Estate Planning Council. She was formerly a member of WealthCounsel, a national organization of estate planning professionals, ePlanners Educational Alliance, the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy, the Alaska Supreme Court’s Probate Rules Committee, the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Alaska Bar Association (former co-chair), and the American, Alaska and Anchorage Bar Associations. She is a graduate Fellow of the three-year Master’s Program of the Esperti Peterson Academy of Multidisciplinary Practice (a program focusing on collaborative estate planning for high net worth clients).

Susan’s commitment to excellence, personal and professional integrity and the compassionate care of clients has become instilled in the culture of Foley & Pearson, P.C.