Bauman, Susan J. M. (Susan Joan Mayer), 1945-

Susan Joan Mayer Bauman (born March 2, 1945) is an American attorney, educator and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman to be elected Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

A native of New York City, Bauman earned a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. from the University of Chicago before working as an 8th grade mathematics teacher in the Madison, Wisconsin Public School system for eight years, eventually becoming President of the teachers' union, Madison Teachers, Incorporated (MTI). After leaving teaching, Bauman earned J.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin and worked as a lawyer in private practice. In 1985, she was elected as an Alderperson on the Madison City Council; after serving for twelve years as an Alderperson, Bauman was elected Mayor on April 1, 1997 to fill the unexpired term of Paul Soglin, who resigned to run for Congress. Two years later, on April 6, 1999, Bauman was elected to a full four-year term, having defeated Eugene Parks. In 2003, Bauman sought re-election, but failed to place among the top two candidates in the primary election, and was therefore not on the ballot for the general election. She was succeeded by Dave Cieslewicz.

On April 18, 2003, shortly after her electoral defeat, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced the appointment of Bauman to serve as a Commissioner on the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC). Bauman served from June 1, 2003 until May 20, 2011. Since leaving the WERC, she has served as a mediator and an arbitrator in numerous disputes in both the public and private sectors.