Mahfood Named Dean of the School of Education

Photo: Dean Stephanie Mahfood leads an advanced training session on inclusive education for St. Louis educators.

Stephanie Mahfood, Ph.D, was named the permanent dean of Webster University’s School of Education, it was announced today. Mahfood has served as the interim dean since June, 2022.

Mahfood earned her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; a Master’s in in Special Education with an emphasis in severe developmental disabilities from Webster University; and a bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education from Calvin College. She has more than 22 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator.

“I am pleased that she will continue to build on the leadership momentum established over the last three and a half years,” said Interim Provost David Schmidt. “She is eminently qualified, providing solid leadership to the School’s faculty and staff, but also serving as an expert to the broader educational community and a reliable partner to educators around the world who look to Webster for guidance on emerging issues in education.”

Mahfood joined Webster in 2004 as an adjunct professor, became a faculty advisor in 2007 and an associate professor in 2012. She served as the School's field experience director from 2018 to 2022 and was named associate dean in 2021. As field experience director, she has redesigned the curriculum to incorporate the use of video-tagging and classroom simulation software to allow pre-service teachers to systematically examine and transform their teaching.

In 2022, Mahfood helped bring in a $100,000 grant from Missouri to expand virtual training of teachers in the state. That program was further expanded in 2024 with a partnership with Jefferson County to improve training for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. That same year, Mahfood also worked with The Nine Network and Webster’s School of Education to design and implement lessons for  “Teaching in Room 9,” a local educational program for pre-kindergarten to fourth-grade learners in the region.

Mahfood regularly provides trainings and consultation to a variety of organizations within the St. Louis community, including the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, The Soulard School and Lafayette Industries. She previously worked as a behavioral specialist for the St. Louis Regional Center, a teacher at Frances-Howell School District and a teacher for Litzsinger School, where she specialized in teaching children with developmental disabilities. She also worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, North Africa, working with students with autism and developmental disabilities.