Leadership Inspired by a Courageous Life with Cathy Stevens

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss connects with Cathy Stevens, senior associate at the Riley Institute at Furman University, about leadership, preparation, and creating opportunities for young people through education and community partnerships.

Cathy reflects on her leadership journey and the lessons she has learned from working with leaders across the country. For more than a decade, she directed a national fellowship that supported advocates working to expand afterschool and summer learning programs in their states. Through this work, she collaborated with nearly 200 leaders representing all 50 states to help secure funding, build partnerships, and expand programs that give young people safe and enriching opportunities beyond the school day.

Throughout the conversation, Cathy highlights the importance of listening as a leader. She shares how creating space for every voice, even during brainstorming sessions that may not lead directly to action, can spark better ideas and strengthen teams. She also discusses the value of professionalism, preparation, and setting a tone that encourages collaboration and optimism.

Cathy opens up about a deeply personal source of courage in her life: her daughter Halle, who lived with a rare disease and faced profound medical challenges with remarkable strength and gentleness. Cathy describes how her daughter’s resilience continues to shape her leadership and reminds her to bring courage and compassion into difficult moments.

She closes with powerful advice for leaders at every stage of their careers: keep learning, prepare thoroughly, involve your team, and remember that the tone a leader sets shapes the culture for everyone.

When asked to describe her leadership style as a plant, Cathy chose a hardy palm tree, a symbol of strength and steadiness that stands firm when the winds get rough and helps shelter others in the storm.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Why listening and honoring ideas strengthens teams and leadership

• How afterschool and summer learning programs expand opportunities for young people

• The role of partnerships, funding, and advocacy in advancing education initiatives

• Why professionalism and preparation still matter in leadership spaces

• How personal experiences can deepen courage and compassion in leadership

***Guest Bio***

Cathy Stevens is a senior associate with the Riley Institute at Furman University. In this role, she serves as an advisor to and representative of the Riley Institute with particular emphasis on the work of the Center for Education Policy and Leadership. She offers counsel to the directors of the Riley Institute’s afterschool and summer learning programs and facilitates connections among them and state and national individuals and organizations involved in afterschool and summer learning. She also serves as a member of the selection committee for the Diversity Leaders Initiative.

Prior to serving as senior associate, Stevens served as the director of afterschool and summer learning initiatives at the institute and was the director of the White-Riley-Peterson Afterschool Policy Fellowship for 11 years. She serves on the board of Family Connection of South Carolina and is a member of the advisory council for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital.

Stevens holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Furman University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Clemson University.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

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