Dr. Stephanie Danette Preston is the Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Equity and Chief Diversity Officer for Graduate Education at The Pennsylvania State University.  She spearheads the Graduate School’s efforts to increase diversity within the graduate student community and to provide an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate for both prospective and current graduate students.  Preston also serves as the administrative PI for the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring grant through the Sloan Foundation. 

Formerly Senior Director of the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs (OGEEP), Preston represented Penn State as a participant in programs such as the National Science Foundation’s Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate which was designed to broaden participation in science technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. As Senior Director her responsibilities also included leading the Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. She has also served as Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Student Affairs and most recently served as the Interim Senior Director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. Prior to her role in the Graduate School, Dr. Preston also served as Assistant Director and Interim Director of the PRCC where she led the PRCC liaison group and was responsible for developing and implementing programs around identity development, academic success, and cultural education. 

Dr. Preston currently serves on the advisory boards of 2030STEM and Landscape U.  She is a known practitioner in her field and was recognized by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) as their 2017 Faculty Mentor of the Year award recipient and received an honorable mention for a second nomination for the award in 2022.  Preston was also a National Science Foundation (NSF) Math-Science Postdoctoral Scholar and has worked as a consultant for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Rankin & Associates Consulting, LLC.  She 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. 

A proud New Orleans native, Dr. Preston enjoys traveling and spending time with family.  She is a Past President of the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) and is a Diamond Life-Paid in Full Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.