President and CEO, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation

In 1999, the Foundation started programs in the fields of scientific and medical research. Domestic biomedical societies, such as the American Society of Hematology, the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry, and others, were given substantial grants to teach state-of-the-art scientific and technological advances in less-resourced countries. In 2005, the Translational Research Program in Biomedical Engineering was launched to provide risk capital for universities to accelerate innovations and inventions from the academic laboratories to the patient bedside. Today, this program has produced more than $5 billion in follow-on funding and is considered the gold standard for university translational research.

The Foundation is the primary funder of civic engagement for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and the American Indian and Alaskan Natives. Both populations have been under-resourced and under-represented by the lack of philanthropic and government support for decades. They receive less than 20 cents per $100 of annual philanthropy, which is over $88 billion. These populations were invisible, with no voice and no seat at the table. Therefore, the vision and mission of Coulter is to build long-term power in both communities. We provide risk capital and seed investments to build capacity and infrastructure for national and state-based community organizations. With continuous multiyear general support, Coulter has instilled in these communities that electoral work is essential and critical for the American Dream.

Prior to establishing the operations of both foundations, Sue was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Coulter Corporation, as well as the Trustee of both owners’ personal trusts. She was responsible for the company’s long-term strategy and financial and legal affairs. Coulter was the leader in global medical diagnostics that created and built the market for automated hematology, revolutionizing clinical laboratory medicine. Her background and experience were shaped by the private company which was # 1 in the world for over forty years.

Sue was born in Shanghai, China, and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of five. She has a B.A in Political Science from American University and an M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University. Sue intends to close the Foundation in 2025 and the Trust shortly thereafter.