Susan Abbott is the Founder and Principal of Cross-Pollinate Consulting, a Denver-based advisory practice that connects research, strategy, and collaboration to strengthen independent media, digital democracy, and civil society around the world.

Susan specializes in information integrity, healthy information ecosystems, digital governance, and democratic resilience. Her work focuses on helping donors, practitioners, and civil society organizations navigate complex information environments and design locally grounded, adaptive strategies. She holds a PhD in Communication from the University of Westminster in London.

In addition to her consulting work, Susan is a Lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder in the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information, where she teaches courses on digital culture, media politics, social media, and the future of technology. She is also the co-founder of Analog Salon, a Denver-based community initiative that uses music, storytelling, and creative gathering to foster human connection and civic imagination.

Susan serves on the Board of the Posner Center for International Development and is deeply committed to strengthening Denver’s global development, civic innovation, and responsible technology ecosystems. Through her work, she brings people, ideas, and sectors together to spark collaboration and build more resilient, inclusive communities-locally and globally.