Presenter Bio - Stephanie Ganser
Stephanie Ganser served as the Director of the Adult Learner experience at Virginia Commonwealth University until the middle of 2025. She oversaw adult learner outreach and initiatives to undergraduate students prior to enrollment through graduation. She also served as the liaison between corporate partners that offered educational benefits for their employees to complete degrees, including relationships with Amazon and UPS. Now, as the inaugural Director of Student Engagement at the School of Medicine, Stephanie leads strategic initiatives that foster student connection, wellness, leadership, and professional development across all medical education programs, including the MD program and CERT program.
In this role, she works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and leadership to create responsive, student-centered programming that supports graduate students at every stage of their training. Her responsibilities encompass developing wellness and engagement activities, facilitating leadership and professional development opportunities, coordinating community engagement initiatives, and serving as a supportive liaison for students navigating academic and personal challenges. Through coaching, advocacy, and strategic communication, she helps cultivate a positive learning environment that reflects Virginia Commonwealth University’s values while promoting student success and community connection throughout the School of Medicine.
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. Stephanie also teaches Appreciative Advising continuing education courses through Florida Atlantic University.
Stephanie has experience in housing and residence life, off-campus student support, academic advising, military student services, conduct, graduate student support, and non-traditional programming. 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 adult learner support, developing transfer student initiatives, military support initiatives, appreciative advising, self-authorship, and town and gown relationships at national and regional conferences including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Strategic Enrollment Management (AACRAO SEM), American College Personnel Association (ACPA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), and the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). Stephanie has a passion for student employment, teaching, and training and has published a case study in Maybe I should...Case Studies on Ethics for Student Affairs Professionals and Peer Leadership in Higher Education through New Directions for Higher Education. She has received grants from the Student Veterans of America and Home Depot to renovate the first Military Resource Lounge on UNCW's campus, as well as grants through the Association of Student Conduct Administration to serve off-campus students through the creation of the Tenant Education program.
Stephanie 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.
