Feb 26 2024 6:45 PM

Stephanie Mayberry, an alumna of the Washington County High School Class of 1994, has enjoyed a long career in higher education. After graduating from Washington County, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1998, and a Master of Social Work in 1999 both from the University of Kentucky. She later earned a Ph.D. in counseling and personnel services in 2021 from the University of Louisville. “During my junior year of college, I worked for the Upward Bound summer program,” says Mayberry. “I saw myself in the Upward Bound students. I had a lightbulb moment in understanding how social work and education work in tandem.”

Mayberry began her career at Lexington Community College (now Bluegrass Community & Technical College) as the student development specialist for Upward Bound. She spent 20 years at the University of Kentucky in the roles of assistant director/freshman counselor, and senior academic advisor, and also spent four years working with Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, most recently as senior director for KSU relations. In August, she joined Kentucky State University as the vice provost of student affairs.

“I am passionate about students,” says Mayberry. “I truly believe it is my ministry. Students come to college with loads of potential. I believe it is my job for them to fully realize their potential and meet all the goals they have set for themselves.”

Looking back, Mayberry credits former WCHS teacher Robert Tatum as being a “crucial piece” along her educational journey. “He allowed me to be my authentic self and never devalued my intelligence.” Mayberry says she believes her greatest career accomplishments are her students. “My students have gone on to become lawyers, doctors, dentists, engineers, executives and a few of them have followed me into higher education. When I think of why I started in this field, their accomplishments serve as a full circle moment for me. I want to continue doing this work as long as I can. If there is anything left for me to do, it is to help mold those coming behind me to have a similar impact on our future students.”

Stephanie Mayberry (Photo submitted)