Stephanie L. Campbell

Stephanie is currently the Director of two Upward Bound programs with Polk State College. Being a Director, has been one of the best undertakings she has encountered. Doubling the number of students to serve in Polk County, which also means increasing the budget and managing 30 staff and millions of federal dollars.

Stephanie majored in Psychology with a minor in African American studies at Florida Southern College, graduating Cum Laude in 2004. After several months, Stephanie became bored, and thought going back to school to obtain another degree would equip her for bigger and better opportunities in the future. She attended Nova Southeastern University Fischler School of Education where she earned her Masters Degree in Education. Stephanie is just as proud to be a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class 23 and Leadership Polk.

After working in public service and became acclimated with the processes, she wanted to make a difference in other people's lives that crossed her path. Beginning with her first scholarship received to attend Stanford University to participate in the Charter Institute for Program Development and Evaluation with Sociometrics where she completed in the top of her class. Stephanie also has been featured on several different occasions in the local media outlets - The Ledger, as well as BayNews9 while presenting keynotes on various subjects.

Stephanie is very active in her community where she serves on numerous non-profit organizations' Board of Directors, Community Foundations, in Polk County. Stephanie has served as one of the initial Co-Chairpersons for the first Focus on Leadership in Winter Haven which began in 2004. Focus on Leadership was established to provide highly motivated individuals firsthand information and experiences in the educational process of issues on a local, state, and national levels as well as a sense of personal involvement in society. Stephanie believes that community involvement is not limited to just “writing a check” and has taken an active role in supporting organizations that benefit those that may need a hand up, by volunteering.

According to reports from very reliable resources, Stephanie has mastered several other undertakings, being a mother is number one priority, career woman, community volunteer, being Lifelong learner and keeping her family in touch. Her little pet peeve is “Don’t invade my time, by being late and unprepared.”

Despite all her honors and achievements, Stephanie is proud to share her relaxing moments which are dining out, photography, the beach, traveling, reading, concerts, Broadway theater, and of course, being a risk taker -smart investor. Stephanie is the 2022 State President, of the Association of Florida Colleges.