Dr. Perkins oversees and manages the organization’s internal and external membership engagement and professional learning strategy. She leads professional learning events and provides technical assistance for Advance CTE members to advance the organization’s strategic priorities and mission and build, strengthen and diversify in-state capacity for CTE leadership.

Prior to joining Advance CTE, Dr. Perkins worked at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in the Workforce Education division. She specifically was the fiscal and operational lead for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) grant distributed to the 54 community, state and technical colleges across Texas. Previous to this work, she was employed for community colleges in Texas for 15 years with roles in student enrollment services including directing an Adult Education and Literacy program.

Stephanie’s hometown is Odessa, Texas but she now calls Austin, Texas home. She received her Doctor of Education from Abilene Christian University in Organizational Leadership- Higher Education. Her dissertation was a narrative study that highlighted the academic pathways and success of first-generation college students. Stephanie received her Master of Education from Angelo State University in Student Development and Leadership- Higher Education and has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Central Texas.