Stephanie Ogilvie Seagle combines her experience in daily journalism, design thinking, and community colleges to amplify the Lab’s impact and emerging ideas as Communications Director.

Stephanie has been following her creative spark since attending New Century College (now known as the School of Integrative Studies), the trailblazing undergraduate program at George Mason University focused on 21st century skills and experiential learning. She spent most of her career at The Roanoke (Va.) Times, a daily newspaper and website, where she founded and edited the innovative Inside Out entertainment section; became the paper’s first social media editor; and served as the “Shoptimist” shopping columnist and blogger (she loves a good bargain!). 

Prior to joining the Lab, Stephanie served as a grant specialist for Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) in Roanoke, where she helped secure and manage over $3 million in grants each year, including a Title III/SIP project focused on adult learners. She also engaged the campus community through a blog exploring innovation in higher education, earning her the honorary title, “Chief Joy Officer”. In 2019, Stephanie led a planning grant for VWCC, which is how she first started working with the Lab to design stackable credentials as part of Virginia’s G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead) tuition assistance program.

HOMETOWN: San Antonio, Texas

BACHELOR’S: B.A. in Integrative Studies with a specialization in English and Media Studies, George Mason University 

MASTER’S: M.A. in Liberal Studies with a specialization in Social Sciences, Hollins University

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Joy is the energy of innovation.”

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK I’M… enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains with my family … reading nonfiction books … or crafting jewelry.

BYLINES: Some of Stephanie’s work at the Lab