Stephanie knew from the age of five that she wanted to help destitute kids. “I want to be the Mother Teresa for children,” she once told her elementary school teacher.

From pastoral counseling in sub-Saharan Africa to Teach For America (TFA) in Phoenix, Stephanie’s path to social work started with outreach to kids. “To watch a group of students come in with challenging backgrounds and make such progress was the most rewarding part of my TFA experience.”

After TFA, Stephanie considered going immediately to work with street children in developing countries, but came to Washington University instead.

 “My heart was set on social work, but I needed a program that I could make my own. I enjoy taking advantage of the resources available at the School. Time with the faculty, my practicum at the Alliance for Building Capacity, and my research undertakings have been invaluable.”

Stephanie plans to apply for a Fulbright grant and work in Mumbai, India, to evaluate agencies that serve street children. “These children are my passion. They are not an unsolvable problem.”