Donna Jackson Stephans, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Workforce Development
Philadelphia International Airport | Northeast Philadelphia Airport

Donna Jackson Stephans is a seasoned professional in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a lifelong dedication to public service, primarily within municipal government. Over her extensive 25-year career, she has seamlessly blended her passions for diversity, equity, and inclusion, learning and development, and public service.

Her career spans a wide array of sectors, including energy and sustainability, neighborhood planning and zoning, health and human services, mental health and aging services, workforce development, juvenile justice, child welfare, and more. In each area, she's been instrumental in fostering dialogues on racial equity and inclusion. Her commitment led her to lead the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Center for Policy and Innovation and Professional Development Divisions, transforming it into the Center for Learning and Organizational Excellence (CLOE). In this role, she championed anti-racist strategies for both organizational and individual change, striving to dismantle systemic racism and promote inclusive policy-making with a focus on racial healing.

Donna’s extensive 20-year career with the City of Austin included more than 10 years in enterprise departments, In in these roles, she spearheaded workforce development, executive leadership development, succession planning, and diversity/ equity initiatives within a complex political environment. Donna holds a Master of Science in Human Resources from Texas State University, graduating with honors. She's shared her expertise as a guest lecturer at the University of Texas Graduate School of Social Work and was recognized in the LinkedIn 2021 Government Workplace Learning Report for efforts to deepen organizational conversations beyond diversity and bias to systemic inequities.

Beyond her professional journey, Donna has fully embraced the role of a mother to a nine-year-old Old Soul and has been actively involved in fostering youth. This personal commitment further fuels her dedication to building a more equitable and inclusive future for all.