Born in metro Detroit, Stephanie was raised by generations of educators. Her mother was a first-grade teacher, her father is a school food service entrepreneur, and her grandparents were educators active in local politics.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Communication and Public Relations, Stephanie started her career as a hyperlocal journalist and publicist. She has interviewed community leaders like Jake Halpern, winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for his graphic novel about Syrian refugees, Olayami Dabls, founder at the MBAD African Bead Museum, and promoted arts nonprofit, The Heidelberg Project.
Prior to E4E, she served Cradles to Crayons—Chicago as Marketing & Communications Manager. She developed regional brand equity, leading digital & media campaigns, and served as spokesperson on local media outlets including WGN, NBC5, and FOX32 Chicago to raise awareness for the Children’s Clothing Insecurity crisis in Chicago, a hidden basic need that prevents 1 in 2 children from regular school attendance and academic success. In 2022, she received a PRSA Award of Excellence in Community Relations.
Working against these inequities in Chicago led Stephanie to E4E with a sense of urgency to heal our education system.