Suding was born to geologist J. Thomas and mother Marti Nash alongside sister Laura.
[1] She completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Williams College in 1994 and her PhD from the University of Michigan in 1999.
During her tenure, she was named a Distinguished Assistant Professor Award for Research in 2007[4] and received the 2008-09 Distinguished Assistant Professor Award for Research for her project "Forays into the Field: Local Impacts of Global Biological Change.
[9] During her tenure at the University of Colorado Boulder, Suding established the Suding Lab to "apply cutting-edge "usable" science to the challenges of restoration, species invasion, and environmental change in partnership with conservation groups, government agencies and land managers."
"[11] She also earned the University of Colorado Boulder's Excellence in Research, Scholarly and Creative Work Award.