Sue Fenton

Bio

Dr. Suzanne (Sue) Fenton earned her MS and PhD from the University of WI-Madison in the Endocrinology/Reproductive Physiology Program. Following her postdoctoral fellowship at the UNC-Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, she led a research laboratory at the US EPA’s Reproductive Toxicology Division for 11 years before she joined the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).  She led the Reproductive Endocrinology group at NIEHS, in what was known as the National Toxicology Program (now Division of Translational Toxicology) for 14 years. Dr. Fenton joined NC State as the Director of the Center for Human Health and the Environment in October 2023.

Dr. Fenton’s laboratory has developed, and enhanced methodology used in toxicologic mammary gland assessment, and has characterized windows of sensitivity for early life chemical exposures that lead to persistent developmental changes, altered function, or disease susceptibility in the breast over the life course. Recent work has focused on health effects resulting from placental and breast milk exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in mice. Dr. Fenton is a member of SOT, US DOHaD, Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention, and has served as an Associate Editor for Environmental Health Perspectives since 2017.  She has received the EPA’s Minority Mentoring and the NIH’s Graduate Mentoring Awards, as well as numerous institute-wide awards for her research on PFAS and other endocrine disruptors.