Stephanie Stuart has researched alternative fuel sources in the Himalayas in Nepal; created a forestry program in Syracuse, N.Y.; and operates a jewelry design company in St. Paul, Minn. Now a master’s degree program student in the School of CED, her goal is to help communities with economic development.

“Having started my own business, a small business, I definitely understand the struggles of getting loans and the startup that you need to be successful,” Stephanie says.

Stephanie’s path to CED began when she joined the board of a microenterprise organization. She attended the university’s Microenterprise and Development Institute and was hooked.

“The curriculum, the facilitators, the participants were unparalled. It was an amazing experience,” she says.
 
“I think that you don’t have to change the world to have made a contribution,” she says. “I think just to have a positive impact on a family, on a community ... helping a family bring in more income into their household so that they can pay the school fees for their children to go to school ...  if I could do that for one family, it would be amazing.”