Ep. 28

I am so excited for you to meet my friend, Stephanie. I have spent the vast majority of my career in higher education spaces where there is an ongoing question—almost a skepticism—about whether students who earn online degrees ever truly build connection. Do they feel a sense of belonging to each other? To the institution? Does affinity actually take hold? Stephanie and I are my answer to that question. We earned our Master of Legal Studies together at the University of Utah—only in the same class once, not even in the same learning mode—and yet our connection formed anyway. Not just with each other, but with a broader circle of classmates and with the institution itself. Years later, that affinity is not only intact, it is meaningful. It’s lasting. So… you can jot that down. But what makes Stephanie remarkable is not the story of how we met—it’s who she is in the work. Today, she serves as Director of Non-JD Programs at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she is leading strategy, shaping curriculum, building community across learning environments, and quite literally rethinking how education shows up for people. She is a bridge-builder—across faculty, students, departments, and external partners—someone who understands that leadership is not just about systems, but about people, experience, and trust. Her path to this work is equally compelling. Stephanie has spent her career inside complex organizations—moving from finance and operations into engineering, documentation, and continuous improvement leadership roles—before stepping fully into higher education, where she now integrates strategy, communication, and human-centered leadership in a way that feels both rare and very needed. And if you know her personally, you already know this: she is smart, kind, hardworking, creative, passionate, and compassionate. She is the kind of leader who pays attention—to people, to systems, to what’s said and what isn’t—and then does the work to make things better. Today, we’re talking about leadership. But I’ll say this now so it’s on record—there is not a topic where I wouldn’t value her insight. So don’t be surprised when she becomes a recurring voice here. Stephanie, I am so glad you’re here.