New Orleans, La. - Xavier Alumna Stephanie Danette Preston has been promoted to associate dean for graduate educational equity in the Graduate School at Penn State. In this role Preston serves on the Council of College Multicultural Leadership, which includes multicultural leaders who spearhead leadership, coordination and development initiatives to implement programs and policies that enhance the recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented groups.

Preston's tenure at Penn State began in August 2009 as assistant director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. After finishing a postdoctoral program, she was appointed senior director of the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs in the Graduate School in 2013, and promoted to assistant dean in June 2017. 

She received her bachelor’s degree in biology in addition to her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction (science education) at Xavier University of Louisiana. As a native Louisianian, Preston previously taught high school biology, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology in New Orleans.