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“Education is a symbol of everything I have overcome and the future I am working hard to build for myself, my family, and my community,” she says. “As a young woman born and raised in Haiti, I know that the opportunity to pursue higher education is a blessing, not something everyone in my home country has access to.”

Stephanie’s college journey has been marked by both challenges and opportunities. Throughout, she has remained focused on a commitment to improving the lives of others as she pursues a career as an advocate for immigrant communities. 

“My education is not just for me. My education is part of a bigger vision of justice, dignity, and access for people like my mother and others who have been overlooked and underserved for too long,” Stephanie says.

“If I were back home, I might not have had the opportunity to further my education as I have now. That truth never leaves me. It is what drives me, humbles me, and keeps me grounded through every challenge I face.”

Stephanie moved with her mother and cousin from Haiti to San Rafael in 2017. It was a tough transition for the family as they adjusted to a new country and a new language. Arriving in February, the family was told that Stephanie would have to wait until the following August to enroll in school. So, she took it upon herself to learn English, studying YouTube videos and translating from English to French. 

“I had a notebook and a blue pen, and a red pen. I would watch YouTube and on one side of the paper write down the English words and on the other side the French translation. So, by the time I started high school in August I was able to understand some English.

Stephanie quickly advanced through English as a second language coursework. By the time she was a sophomore she was enrolled in mainstream English classes. As a senior she enrolled in AP English literature.

“I never stopped challenging myself.”

The moment Stephanie stepped foot on the Dominican campus, she recalls feeling at home. “I just knew that this was where I wanted to be – where I was supposed to be,” she recalls of her first visit to Dominican through San Rafael High School’s AVID college and career readiness program. 
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Stephanie’s journey to the Dominican took some time – and a lot of hard work. She juggled coursework at College of Marin and a full-time job before transferring to Dominican last year as a junior. 

Dominican was the only four-year college she applied to.

“I always had faith that I was going to end up here,” she recalls. “I didn’t even want to apply to other schools.”

Stephanie originally planned to major in sociology. However, a first-semester service-learning course changed her mind. The work, she recalls, was life-changing. A class led by Dr. Lucia León, assistant professor of Latino studies and social justice, stands out.

“We were working with Canal Alliance to help people get their driver’s licenses. This was the first time I was introduced to service-learning, and I just fell in love with it. I couldn’t stop talking about my experiences.”

Connecting with people living in her neighborhood - San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood – made the work deeply personal. 

“Deep down I always knew that I wanted to do something that would help people living in immigrant communities. I am paying it forward, and it feels like a calling because I have had people help me in the past and I know how important that is.”

After a community action & social change course with Dr. Emily Wu, Stephanie was inspired to take on a leadership role at as an Education Dedicated to Justice and Equity (EDJE) student fellow.

Another Dominican professor whose actions made a lasting impression was Dr. Jennifer Lucko, co-chair of the Education Department.

“It was my first day in Dr. Lucko’s class and she noticed that I was tired. She reached out to me at the end of class and asked if I was OK and if there was anything she could help with, Stephanie recalls.

When Stephanie explained she was helping to support her family by working full time and also taking on late-night babysitting jobs, Dr. Lucko gently directed Stephanie to some on-campus resources, including the Angel Fund. Created in 2019 by the Board of Trustees, the Angel Fund supports students who are facing unexpected financial hardships.

At the end of the semester, Stephanie gave Dr. Lucko flowers.

“I told her you did not know who I was, but you took care of me and helped me out and I will be forever grateful. I let her know that my semester was better because she took that first step to help me. She may not feel she did a huge thing in that moment, but she did.”

Stephanie developed her interest in housing policy during Dr. Laura Stivers’ environmental ethics class. Dr. Stivers, professor of Ethics and co-chair of the Division of Public Affairs, studies issues related to social and environmental justice. Her most in-depth work has been on homelessness and affordable housing.

“It is interesting to look at things through a social justice eye,” she says. “You start to dig into the big questions and keep looking for answers: Why is there so much poverty? Why are so many people homeless?”

“I am genuinely grateful for the strong relationships I have formed with  professors, each of whom has shown a remarkable level of care, understanding, and support,” Stephanie adds.

“Whether it was through granting her extra time on assignments during particularly stressful periods, offering thoughtful and constructive feedback, or simply taking the time to check in and ensure she was doing well, their kindness and commitment have made a lasting impact.’

With a growing interest in affordable interest, Stephanie applied for a summer internship with the Bernal Heights Housing Corporation (BHHC), which develops, preserves, and rehabilitates affordable homes throughout San Francisco. Her work with BHHC continues this year, with the promise of a full-time job after graduation. 

While working at BHHC, Stephanie is drawing on the communication skills she honed at Dominican, be it talking with contractors about work needed on corporation apartments or with local officials for reports she helps her team prepare for the San Francisco mayor’s office. 

“In my classes, I have learned how to interact with people – how to truly communicate with them by asking questions, really listening to their answers, and then asking more questions to better understand what they are trying to say.”

Stephanie will drawn on her experiences at BHHC for her senior capstone on displacement in affordable housing.

Last year, she wrote a research paper focused on language-based discrimination in Marin County. The subject was personal. Stephanie recalls feeling socially disconnected with her high school peers due to language barriers. That experienced inspired her to join Dominican’s Ģ����Ƶ Division II track team as a walk on last year. 

“I enjoy being part of a team and having so many nice people as teammates. This is what I would have wanted in high school – to be part of a group. Being part of a team is healing.” 

Stephanie also serves as an Education Dedicated to Justice and Equity (EDJE) student fellow and as the treasurer for Dominican’s Black Student Union. Both positions allow her to further her academic, professional, and civic development while being active in her community.

Stephanie’s long-term goal is to attend law school to advance her work focused on housing and social justice.  

“Once I graduate from Dominican, I plan to continue working alongside immigrant communities through advocacy, policy work, and direct service. My education is not just for me; it is part of a bigger vision of justice, dignity, and access for people like my mother and others who have been overlooked and underserved for too long.”