Stephanie Hightower

     Stephanie Hightower became the 8th President/CEO of the Columbus Urban League (CUL) on August 11, 2011. She is the first female to hold this top leadership position in the 93-year history of the organization.

     Ms. Hightower comes to CUL from the Columbus College of Art & Design, one of the country's premier, Midwest art and design institutions. At the college, Ms. Hightower was Vice President of Institutional Advancement and was responsible for the strategic positioning of the college and for increasing charitable donations. She was responsible for leading marketing and communications, media relations, business development and income generation, community relations, alumni engagement, and legislative affairs. Ms. Hightower recently completed the planning and direction of the college's first comprehensive fundraising campaign for capital improvements and endowment growth. The campaign exceeded the $12 million goal.

     Ms. Hightower's professional portfolio includes a wealth of experiences in athletics and public service. Over the last 25 years she has held leadership roles in government, amateur athletics, the not-for-profit human services arena, public education and higher education.

     Between 1977 and 1988, Ms Hightower earned collegiate, national and international recognition as a world-class track and field athlete competing in the 100 meter hurdles. Ms. Hightower held several American and world records and was a member of the 1980 Olympic Team. As a student athlete at The Ohio State University, she earned Big Ten Conference, collegiate and national championship titles and a place in The Ohio State University's Athletic Hall of Fame. As one of America's elite athletes, she competed in over a dozen national teams representing the United States across the globe. Since her retirement from competitive athletics in 1988, Ms. Hightower has become a top leader within the USA Track and Field, serving as Chairman and President of the governing body.

     In addition to the above athletic accomplishments, Ms. Hightower served as the Assistant Manager for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA; Head Manager for the 1999 World Championship Team in Seville, Spain; Chief of the Delegation for the 2003 Outdoor World Championships in Paris, France; and in 2004 Ms. Hightower served as the Women's Track and Field Team Leader for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. And for eight years, she served as Chairperson for the Women's Committee.

     Ms. Hightower's professional background also includes Director of Communications with the Ohio Department of Mental Health; Communication Press Secretary in the Columbus City Mayor's Office and later the Special Assistant to the Mayor.

     Ms. Hightower will not be a stranger to the Columbus Urban League or the Urban League Movement. Early in her career, Ms. Hightower served as Director of Communications and Development at the Columbus Urban League, an affiliate of the nation's oldest and largest community-based Movement devoted to empowering African Americans and disadvantaged individuals. During her tenure at CUL she guided advocacy engagement issues, public relations initiatives, and she was responsible for CUL's youth summer programs.

     In 2000, Ms. Hightower began eight years of elected public service as a member of the Columbus City School Board. During her tenure and leadership as the president, the school district excelled in many areas, including gains in academic performance, passage of a multi-million dollar bond, improved cost-savings measures, increased fiscal solvency, and the replacement of out-dated school buildings.

     Ms. Hightower's current community activities include service with Columbus Schools for Girls, KIPP Learning Academy and on the Advisory Boards for US Bank Columbus Region, and the African American Leadership Academy. Her previous work throughout the community and directly with families and children has included more than a dozen boards and neighborhood agencies. Ms. Hightower is a founding member of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio, served on the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Museum of Art, Buckeye Ranch, Columbus AIDS Task Force, and Dresden Sister City Board. She has also provided volunteer service to the Columbus Foundation's Neighborhood Partnership Program, the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization (CMACAO), Chances for Children, the Eldon Ward YMCA, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio and Action for Children.

     In addition to her record of professional success, Stephanie is most proud of her son, Cameron Baker, a junior at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.

     The Columbus Urban League (CUL), founded in 1918, is the oldest and largest community based organization committed to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream in Columbus, Ohio. Specifically, the mission of the CUL is to enable African Americans and disadvantaged persons to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The CUL is an affiliate of the National Urban League, which was founded in 1910. The CUL stands as one of the oldest affiliates in the 105-affiliate network of the Urban League movement.

Our Mission & Vision

"The Columbus Urban League promotes the full participation of African Americans and other disadvantaged persons in the economic and social fabirc of our society."

"To be the premier problem solving organization in central Ohio; with unequivocal excellence in all respects."

To provide high quality, learning experiences for children to prepare them for success in school.