Stephanie Bothun is passionate about opening doors to opportunity and has spent her career at the intersection of education, talent, workforce development, and economic opportunity. Bothun is the Principal and Founder of Avalon Talent Strategies LLC, where she specializes in providing education and workforce pathways consulting services. Previously, Bothun co-founded Ascend Indiana, a non-profit intermediary committed to making Indiana a place of economic opportunity for all. At Ascend, Stephanie built pathways programs to scale the number of registered nurses, behavioral health clinicians, early childhood workers, and life sciences technicians. She also started and led a youth apprenticeship movement in Indiana.
Prior to co-founding Ascend, Bothun served as the Director of Education Initiatives for the City of Indianapolis leading forward early childhood, STEM, and workforce efforts. She also previously served as a human capital analyst for Deloitte Consulting LLP and as an 8th grade teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools through Teach For America’s Charter Indianapolis Corps, where she won the regional nomination for the Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award. Bothun earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in Education from Marian University.
In 2020, Bothun was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s (IBJ) prestigious Forty Under 40 list. In 2023, Bothun was named as a Finalist for Indy’s Best and Bright and named one of 60 Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS). PLS serves as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought together to collaborate and create meaningful change in the United States and around the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations. Stephanie also serves on the boards of Early Learning Indiana, Nextech, Marian’s Center for Vibrant Schools, and The Oaks Academy.