Stephanie Terry – A Devoted Wife, Loving Mother, Career Woman, Civic Leader, And Dedicated Volunteer. 

Stephanie is currently the Executive Director of the Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) and has over 15 years’ experience in not-for-profit organization management at various youth-serving organizations in the Evansville area. Since joining the museum 7 years ago, Stephanie and her team have increased visitors, museum membership, raised over $1M for new capital projects, which hasn’t been done since the museum’s capital campaign in 2006, launched a new reduced admission program for low-income families, and established a new professional development program for local businesses to help infuse creative thinking in the workplace. In 2017, the museum was named the Southwest Indiana Chamber Nonprofit of the Year. cMoe is a leader in early childhood development which enables and encourages children to think critically and creatively through play. Children with highly developed cognitive, motor, social and emotional skills are able to reach their full potential and cMoe is a place where parents can bring their children to build those competencies. Stephanie’s strong leadership and vision for cMoe continues to propel the organization to new heights with each passing year.

In 2010, Stephanie Terry was appointed to the Vanderburgh County Council to fulfill a vacant seat and approximately six months later she was successfully elected to the position, as the first African American woman to serve on Council. She was re-elected in 2014 and is now serving her second four-year term. In her role on the Vanderburgh County Council, she has taken on county issues with determination and effectiveness. As a councilwoman, she remains supportive of tax phase-ins for new companies and for those expanding- creating jobs; and protecting the Homestead Credit for families to lessen the impact of property taxes. Stephanie was the main voice that called for inter-local agreements to be reviewed annually to ensure all contracts are adhered to. She works diligently with officeholders and county department heads, regardless of political party, to hold the line on spending despite shrinking revenues and the Indiana state-imposed tax caps. When funding for the Human Relations Commission was going to be cut, she fought to protect the department which enforces anti-discrimination laws and promotes equal opportunity. Her voice on the Council has also made a difference in the support provided for the Initiative Based Assistance Program, which provides families assistance for child care expenses and safety net issues such as car repair. 

Her civic and community works do not stop there; she has served on the board of directors of Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, YWCA, Visiting Nurse Association, City of Evansville Board of Public Safety, and Diversity Lecture Series. Stephanie is also a member of the Commission on Homelessness, The Women’s Hospital Advisory Council and the immediate past president of the Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also serves on the Association of Children’s Museum board of directors. 

Stephanie has received numerous awards and recognition for her commitment to service in this community. In 2011, the Evansville Courier & Press named Stephanie a “20 under 40” Emerging Leader. In 2015, she was awarded Soror of the Year by the Midwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 2017, the University of Southern Indiana Multicultural Center recognized her as a Phenomenal Woman and recently, Stephanie was named one of the 2018 Southwest Indiana Chamber Athena finalist.