Stephanie leverages more than a decade of experience in business and education to lead development and philanthropic fundraising efforts for the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning in the College of Education.Beginning her career in the marketing industry, Stephanie was drawn to the field of education and the opportunity to invest in the next generation. She transitioned into the K-12 education system as a secondary mathematics teacher, where she had the opportunity to hone her skills and knowledge in implementing research-based, engaging instructional practices, understand the critical role that connection and community play in learning, and becoming acutely aware of the challenges that children and teachers face within the current educational system. Her desire to enact sustained, significant change in the field of education led her to join the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning in 2014. Most recently serving as the Assistant Director of Strategy at the Lastinger Center, Stephanie played an integral role in securing more than $250M in public and private funding to support the development, implementation, and scaling of the Center’s flagship programs, including Math Nation and Early Learning Florida. Through her work, Stephanie has developed an in-depth understanding of Florida's early childhood and K-12 education systems and policies at the local and state levels. A double graduate of the University of North Florida, Stephanie holds a B.S. in Marketing and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Stephanie resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and two children.