Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry is a lifelong resident of the city she is proud to lead.

After graduating from Evansville’s Bosse High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Kentucky State University, then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in health service administration from University of Evansville.

She spent four years as the first Deputy Director of Carver Community Organization, managing day to day operations of the childcare, senior center/adult day care, and afterschool programming. In 2010, she joined the Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe).

As Executive Director of (cMoe) for 13 years, Mayor Terry led a team dedicated to enriching the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families. Under her leadership, the museum increased visitors and memberships; strengthened partnerships; raised and invested over $1 million in new capital projects; and launched a $6.5 million capital campaign, raising $5 million before Mayor Terry’s departure. cMoe also was named the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year in 2017.

In the same year she joined cMoe, Mayor Terry was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Vanderburgh County Council. About five months later, she was elected to the position as the first African American woman to serve on the council. She was re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022, before being elected Mayor of Evansville in November 2023.

As Mayor, she has placed an increased emphasis on the people and places of Evansville. In her first proposed budget, Mayor Terry advocated for the largest raise in more than a decade for all city employees, while also proposing significant investments in neighborhood revitalization by investing in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, land acquisition, the Land Bank, and maintenance of Evansville’s Department of Parks & Recreation. 

Outside of government, Mayor Terry has served the Evansville community on the board of directors of Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, YWCA, Visiting Nurse Association, City of Evansville Board of Public Safety, E-REP, and Women’s Equality Day Committee. In 2023, she completed a four-year term as the Indiana State Coordinator for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., overseeing 13 chapters across the state. Delta Sigma Theta is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.

Mayor Terry has received numerous awards over the years, but she is most proud of having been named the 2020 Athena Non-profit Professional of the Year by the Southwest Indiana Chamber (now E-REP); the 2020 Soror of the Year by the Midwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; 2020 YWCA Woman on a Mission Award; the 2021 William G. and Rose M. Mays Legacy Award from the University of Evansville; and the 2024 Sara B. Davies Visionary Award from Leadership Everyone.

The mayor and her husband, Marques, have three children. Her family worships at Memorial Baptist Church, where they are long-time members. She loves to spend time with her family, sing and do graphic design.