Presenter Bio - Stephanie Ganser

Stephanie Ganser is currently serving as the Director of Student Engagement in the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) overseeing support for medical and graduate students through programming and events, communication, and advocacy. She has significant background working with military-affiliated students.

Prior to her current role role, she served as the Director of the Adult Learner experience at VCU overseeing adult learner outreach and initiatives to undergraduate students prior to enrollment through graduation. 

Stephanie has previously served as a Residence Life Coordinator at Wake Forest University, Academic Advisor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Assistant Dean at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. During her tenure at UNCW, she administered, oversaw, and assessed special student population services including military-affiliated students, organizing over 100 programs annually. She directed the creation and operation of the Military Resource Lounge and organized large-scale programs at the university including the Military Resource Lounge ribbon cutting and Veterans Day Ceremony. Her commitment to military-affiliated student support was recognized with a $10,000 grant from the Student Veterans of America/Home Depot Grant to subsidize renovation expenses for the Military Resource Lounge and an award from the Military Officer Association of America.  Allowing students to have a dedicated space increased their sense of belonging and had students have a stronger connection to resources that aided in their success.

From her diverse set of experiences in higher education, she appreciates and understands the student experience when designing programs, resources and support for students. She has presented on topics including military support initiatives, military veteran orientation best practices, adult learner support, developing transfer student initiatives, appreciative advising, self-authorship, and town and gown relationships at national and regional conferences including  the Southeastern Council on Military Education.

Stephanie is a military dependent and has family that has served in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing Communications and Advertising from Western New England University and her Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina.