Dr. Stephanie L. Quirk is a scholar-practitioner with over two decades of experience in higher education, specializing in student affairs, institutional civic engagement, and values-driven leadership. As the Manager of Student Life, Leadership & Civic Engagement at the College of DuPage, she directs the strategic expansion of civic learning, co-curricular leadership program design, and student organization development. Her work focuses on institutionalizing democratic engagement across campus ecosystems through sustainable, collaborative coalitions.

An active researcher and educator, Dr. Quirk bridges administrative excellence with classroom instruction. She holds adjunct faculty appointments across multiple levels of higher education, teaching Leadership Studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School, Qualitative Research Methods in the Goodwin College of Business Doctoral Program at Benedictine University, and Leadership Development in the Humanities at the College of DuPage. Her research and pedagogy center on qualitative methodologies, global leadership framework design, and the vital role of the humanities in helping students cultivate a robust civic identity.

Dr. Quirk’s practical impact includes securing and managing significant federal and private funding, including the Help America Vote College Program (HAVA) grant. Through these initiatives, she established innovative community partnerships like the “Poll Worker Project,” an experiential scholarship program designed to integrate democratic action with student leadership development. Under her co-leadership, her institutional initiatives have achieved consistent national distinction, including designations as a “Voter Friendly Campus” and a “Highly Established Civic Action Plan”.

She earned her Ph.D. in Values-Driven Leadership from Benedictine University and an M.A. in Leadership Studies from North Central College. She presents frequently at national and international conferences, including NASPA and the International Leadership Association, on community college student advocacy, global leadership competencies, and reflective portfolio learning.