Stephanie Payne

Dr. Stephanie Payne is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Program Coordinator of the Child Welfare BSW Scholars Tuition Assistance Program at South Carolina State University. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Winthrop University and Capella University. Her expertise spans child welfare, DEI, and social work education. Payne holds a DSW from Tulane University, MSW from the University of South Carolina, and a BA in Psychology from North Carolina A&T State University.

Her research focuses on child maltreatment, foster care, adoption, and the impact of cultural taxation on women of color in leadership. She has co-authored a manuscript exploring Black administrators navigating white cultural norms. Payne has received notable recognitions, including Citizen of the Year (2023) and inclusion in the South Carolina Black Pages Top 20 Under 40 (2020).

Payne’s professional experience includes roles as Child Welfare Training Director and Program Manager at the University of South Carolina’s Center for Child and Family Studies. She develops curricula for child welfare professionals and advocates for systemic improvements in social work practice. Her courses include Social Work Practice III, Child Welfare Services, and Professional Development.