Stev'anne Horton

Stev’anne Horton is a strategic higher education leader with deep expertise in academic operations, organizational strategy, and institutional leadership. She serves as Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff at the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development. In this role, she works in close partnership with the dean to advance the school’s strategic vision, lead enterprise-level initiatives, and strengthen operational alignment across academic and administrative leadership. In her role, she oversees complex initiatives that support institutional growth, operational effectiveness, and cross-school collaboration. Her leadership focuses on translating strategic priorities into actionable outcomes while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Simmons community.

Prior to joining SMU, she served as Director of Operations at a private preschool in Houston, where she led organizational transformation efforts that strengthened operational systems, expanded staff development, and advanced high-quality early childhood education programming. Her professional expertise spans Texas curriculum and instruction, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and talent development.

Known for her ability to bridge strategy and execution, Stev'anne brings a distinctive blend of business acumen and educational vision to her work. She is committed to cultivating high-performing, mission-driven environments that advance educational excellence and support the long-term impact of the institution.

Stev'anne holds an MBA in Management from the University of Houston, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Lamar University, and a B.S. in Kinesiology from The University of Texas at Austin.