Stefani Vargas (she/her,ella) is a Peruvian American student affairs educator, speaker, consultant, trainer, community organizer, & social scientist with 10+ yrs of experience in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion work. Stefani runs the Student Equity & Engagement Center at Northern Michigan University where she is also the Co-Chair of The President's Committee on Diversity.

Her work is rooted in community care, decolonization, & student development. Stefani holds bachelor's degrees in sociology and photography, and a master's degree in student affairs, all from Northern Michigan University. She is a widely requested speaker, consultant, & trainer for organizations throughout the country on a variety of topics ranging from inclusive policy design to LGBT+ history & identity.

Stefani’s current research focuses on the experiences of rural marginalized students in higher education, the intersections of technology & LGBT identity development, & institutional betrayal. She is an expert in butch/femme history and identity, stone identity, and fat liberation.

Stefani is a first-generation American who was born & raised in Detroit however, she has called the UP home since 2010. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her chosen family, hiking with her dog Millie, & listening to podcasts.