Stephanie Spitz Combines Academic Excellence, Advocacy and Research

Stephanie Spitz, department administrator for Art and Design and recently graduated from the M.A. in Higher Education program. Spitz completed the program part-time over five years while continuing her full-time role at the University. Her graduate studies focused on equity-minded practices in higher education, culminating in capstone research examining anti-fat discrimination in higher education. Along the way, she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, received one of three Outstanding Potential in Higher Education awards from the College of Education and Engaged Learning, and was inducted into both the Alpha Epsilon Lambda and Chi Sigma Alpha honor societies for excellence in academics, research and leadership.

“The program’s faculty were incredible mentors and co-researchers,” Spitz says. “I learned practical skills for higher education administration and student affairs, while also growing as an advocate and researcher.”

During her time in the program, Spitz presented workshops, guest lectures and community conversations on topics including racial equity, disability studies and fat liberation at Montclair, throughout Northern New Jersey and internationally. Her scholarship included peer-reviewed conference presentations at the ACPA College Student Educators International Annual Convention and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region II Conference, as well as publication of a peer-reviewed journal article focused on training equity-minded practitioners.

Among her recent presentations and public scholarship were “Student Experiences of Anti-Fatness in Higher Education” at the 2026 ACPA Annual Convention, “Safe and Brave Spaces” at the Collaborative World Building International Symposium in Vienna, and a keynote presentation, “Challenging Ableism for an Inclusive Future,” for the Township of Livingston’s Fashion-Able-Ally event.

Spitz has served as the Department Administrator for Art and Design for the past decade, where she has worked closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners. Her work has focused on improving efficiency while centering equitable and consistent administrative practices that support marginalized communities.

In recent years, her advocacy and service efforts have particularly focused on disabled and fat communities through collaborations with the Disability Caucus, Inclusive Excellence and the Office of Student Belonging. In 2025, she received a Presidential Excellence Award in the category of Advocacy and Allyship in recognition of that work.

“As both a professional staff member and graduate student, Stephanie exemplifies the values of equity-minded leadership and engaged scholarship.”