When Gabrielle Stevenson ’21 came back to St. Joe’s for a faculty position in the fall 2024 semester, she wanted to work with students and give back in a meaningful way.
Stevenson, who held many campus leadership positions as an undergraduate, like orientation leader, vice president of University Student Senate and alumni chair for Phi Sigma Pi, is now the program specialist for the Office of Inclusive Excellence within the Center of Inclusion and Diversity.
“Being able to speak to students, talk to peers, advocate on behalf of students and peers, was something that I really learned and a skill set that I think is transferred to this job,” Stevenson said.
Located on the second floor of the Campion Student Center, the CID is where Stevenson leads by building relationships with students and faculty.
“Primarily, we focus on students in this office, but I’m trying to expand to also include faculty and staff [so they] just feel like they have a space to feel seen and heard and comfortable,” Stevenson said. “I think that sometimes you can be overlooked, or you don’t get to be your authentic, true version of yourself in certain spaces. I personally, as an undergraduate student, found that the CID was my space to just be myself.”
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 64.1% of the student enrollment at St. Joe’s in fall 2024 was white, 9.5% was Asian, 8.9% was Black, 8.3% was Hispanic, 3.2% identified with two or more races, 0.1% was Native American and 0.1% was Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Race and ethnicity were unknown for 2.3% of students.
Stevenson is known for her radiant and energetic presence. Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D., director of student leadership and activities, was touched by Stevenson’s positivity when she worked with her in the past.
“What I do remember about Gabby, and not surprising because she is no different now than she was then, was just her unbelievably positive outlook on everything and the infectious energy that she brings to any situation,” Hagovsky said. “You meet Gabby, and everything just feels better upon chatting with her or talking with her because of her positivity and her hopeful energy.”
Stevenson said she also works on the National Alumni Board to connect students to alums like her. Part of her work includes the creation of the Business and Bites Mixer, a networking event in collaboration with the Black Student Union, CID and Ready to Launch. Stevenson said she encourages every student to partake in the event.
“I think that coming back to an institution that you went to in undergrad is always interesting,” Stevenson said. “I do encourage all St. Joe’s students to think about how impactful an alum can be in their lives.”
Stevenson’s impact can be seen not just in the organizations but also with students like Mayva Pierre Louis ’26. Stevenson and Pierre Louis were involved in the Running Start, an early arrival program that aims to support first-year students of diverse backgrounds.
Pierre Louis said she was inspired by Stevenson’s leadership.
“Seeing her do so good and thrive made me want to also step into my leadership shoes and just do my thing,” Pierre Louis said.
Another person Stevenson inspired is Erika Lohbauer, program specialist for inclusive excellence and institutional effectiveness. Lohbauer said one of her favorite parts of working with Stevenson is how much care she puts into her work.
“Gabby’s just one of those extraordinary people who is always listening to hear what you need,” Lohbauer said. “She’s focused on how she can help.”
Stevenson’s work of building community and connecting everyone together goes beyond her office. It’s her passion.
“Building community is at the forefront of everything that I do, and then everything else kind of goes afterward,” Stevenson said. “[I want] people to just feel like they have a space, feel like they belong somewhere.”
