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Dr. Michael Stephenson Working to Transform Lives

By Todd Fuqua

For Dr. Michael Stephenson (BS 91), working in academic affairs at various universities has become a way of life. That’s not how he envisioned his career, but he’s happy with how things have turned out.

Sam Houston State

“I figured I’d have a job in broadcasting,” Dr. Stephenson said. But coming from a family full of educators, “I was compelled to teach and ultimately decided to continue my education,” Dr. Stephenson said. “I found a passion for both researching and teaching about the effects of media on society.”

He’s taken that inspiration to his current position as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, a position he has held since July 2021. Before that, he was the vice provost for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He has held faculty appointments in communication at both institutions and enjoys engaging directly with students in and out of the classroom.

The importance of student success is something Dr. Stephenson learned while an undergraduate at ENMU. Initially, he dreamed of a broadcasting career, having worked for a radio station in Clayton, New Mexico, starting when he was just 13 years old. He continued that work through high school and majored in communication at Eastern, where he also anchored the Scene-3 News broadcast at KENW-TV.

He’s since discovered he loves helping students find their potential on a broader scale. Dr. Stephenson said, “The most rewarding part is graduation day. At my current institution, half of our students are first-generation graduates. Earning a college degree fundamentally transforms their lives.”

Those most influential on his view of student success include President Emerita Dr. Patrice Caldwell, Dr. Kathy Salter, JoAnn Gibson (MED 65), and the late Dr. Lee Scanlon.

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