Dr. Stephanie Danette Preston
Associate Dean, Graduate Educational Equity and Chief Diversity Officer for Graduate Education
Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs and Office of the Dean of the Graduate School
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Bio
Dr. Stephanie Danette Preston is the Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Equity. Previously, Dr. Preston was the Senior Director of the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs where she spearheaded the Graduate School's efforts to increase diversity within the graduate student community across the University.
Dr. Preston has administered, coordinated and evaluated comprehensive recruitment programs and retention activities which enhance the professional development of underrepresented graduate students. As Senior Director, and in her current role, Dr. Preston leads the Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Opportunities Program and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. She has represented Penn State as a participant in programs such as the National Science Foundation's Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, designed to broaden participation in science technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Additionally, she has coordinated the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Scholars Program.
Dr. Preston completed her Ph.D. at Penn State in curriculum & instruction in science education. Her graduate research focused on the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities and women in STEM fields. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and her master’s degree in curriculum & instruction (science education) at Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Preston taught high school biology, chemistry, and human anatomy & physiology in New Orleans.