Stephanie Odera is the associate director for the Bridging Richmond partnership within the division of Community Engagement at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this role, she is responsible for project management, policy and practice change leadership, outreach, and communications and resource development as well as lead the Lumina Foundation grant work associated with the Richmond Talent Hub designation.

Stephanie earned a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from VCU as well as a Bachelor and Master degrees in Social Work. As a social work practitioner, Odera has over 10 years of experience in the field of social work, which includes working as a school social worker in Richmond City Public Schools and as a CPS Specialist II for the Virginia Department of Social Services. Immediately prior to joining the partnership, Odera served as an assistant professor in teaching at VCU School of Social Work where her teaching and research interests included educational equity, the promotion of racial and economic justice, and social work in school settings.