Recognized for her significant contributions to society, Stephanie Byrd, Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Central & Southern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Miami University as part of its winter commencement on December 9, 2022.

“We are excited to award Stephanie Byrd with an honorary doctorate from Miami University,” said Miami University President Gregory Crawford. “We admire and applaud her tenacity and dedication to building this community and her leadership through the most challenging times of this century. We are honored to have her as a Miami University alum and a champion for community empowerment.”

“I am both thrilled and humbled to be bestowed an honorary Doctorate by my alma mater, Miami University,” said Stephanie Byrd. “It is at Miami, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, that I began to fully comprehend the difference I could make in my community through an attitude of service.” 

In her role as Red Cross Regional CEO, Byrd is accountable for five chapters, covering 47 counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with a population of 6.1 million people. She is responsible for the mobilization of Red Cross volunteers and resources in response to local and national disasters; the execution of disaster preparedness training programs focused on children, adults and companies; and the oversight of programs and services provided for our military.  

As a career non-profit executive, Byrd has been honored with numerous awards and accolades for her work in our community including the prestigious YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and Cincinnatian of the Year. Most recently, Byrd was recognized as a 2022 “Black is Excellence”, Unsung Hometown Hero by the city of Cincinnati.  The campaign seeks to acknowledge, celebrate and promote the contributions of Black and African Americans in our community.

Byrd holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Miami University and a master’s degree in Health and Hospital Administration from Xavier University.