Sue Ellen Follon was born June 22, 1942, the daughter of Oliver Franklin and Mary Rebecca Moore Follon. Sue Follon graduated in 1963 with a B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant. Her master's degree in Student Personnel Services was completed at the University of Northern Iowa in 1970 and her EdD. Degree in Higher Education Administration was completed in 1983 at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

From 1963-67, Follon taught secondary science at Delwood Community Schools in Delmar, Iowa. From 1967-70, she was a University of Northern Iowa residence hall director and from 1970-76, an associate dean of students and coordinator of student activities at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. Follon was appointed Executive Director on the Iowa Commission for the Status of Women (ICSW) by Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray and together they established the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.

During this time, Follon was involved with the 50 States Project, commissioned by President Ronald Reagan to review legal code in each state to make changes to discriminatory language. Iowa's 50 States report was the first and made many suggestions that were passed, on issues such as pay equity, sexual assault, domestic violence and education.

Follon was awarded the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice for her efforts to include women in the Iowa Constitution. Sue Follon died November 4, 1998 from cancer, the day after the Iowa Constitution was amended to include the word "women".