Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry is a lifelong resident of the city she is proud to lead.
After graduating from Evansville’s Bosse High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Kentucky State University, then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in health service administration from University of Evansville.
As a Public Health Administrator with the Indiana State Department of Health, she assisted 12 county health departments in developing plans to deal with public health crises. She followed that by serving in both personnel and financial capacities for Angel River Health & Rehabilitation before joining Carver Community Organization for four years as its first Deputy Director, managing day to day operations of the childcare, senior center/adult day care, and afterschool programming.
As Executive Director of the Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) for the past 12 years, Stephanie has led a team dedicated to enriching the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families. Under her leadership, the museum increased visitors and memberships; strengthened partnerships; raised and invested over $1 million in new capital projects; and was named the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year in 2017.
In the same year she joined cMoe, Stephanie was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Vanderburgh County Council. About five months later, she was elected to the position as the first African American woman to serve on the council. She was re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022, before being elected Mayor of Evansville in November 2023.
Outside of government, Stephanie has served the Evansville community on the board of directors of Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, YWCA, Visiting Nurse Association, City of Evansville Board of Public Safety, E-REP, and Women’s Equality Day Committee. Additionally, she just completed a four-year term as the Indiana State Coordinator for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., overseeing 13 chapters across the state. Delta Sigma Theta is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.
Stephanie has received numerous awards over the years, but she is most proud of having been named the 2020 Athena Non-profit Professional of the Year by the Southwest Indiana Chamber (now E-REP); the 2020 Soror of the Year by the Midwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; 2020 YWCA Woman on a Mission Award; and the 2021 William G. and Rose M. Mays Legacy Award from the University of Evansville.
Stephanie and her husband Marques have three children, the youngest of which is in high school. Her family worships at Memorial Baptist Church, where they are long-time members. She loves to spend time with her family, sing and do graphic design.