Stephanie Helms Pickett, EdD, Vice President for Equity, Belonging & Culture at Antioch University, was celebrated among the distinguished Women to KNOW in North Carolina—a prestigious honor profiling outstanding women across the state for their professional achievements and community impact. Honorees are selected through a rigorous process involving interviews and peer evaluation by past recipients and community leaders. They were celebrated at a formal dinner in Raleigh and are featured in the Women to KNOW in North Carolina hardcover book, distributed statewide.
“I am truly honored to be recognized alongside such extraordinary women whose leadership and innovation continue to inspire through their fields and entrepreneurial pursuits,” said Helms Pickett. “In a moment when women’s agency is under threat, this intentional celebration of our contributions feels both purposeful and deeply affirming.”
Helms Pickett joined Antioch University in January 2024 as the inaugural Vice President, Equity, Belonging & Culture. In this pivotal role, she reports directly to university leadership and champions institution-wide efforts to enact equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and belonging across all facets of higher education. Her work spans partnerships with students, faculty, and governing boards to drive transformational organizational change at Antioch University.
Her rich career includes leadership positions at both NC State University, as Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence & Strategic Practice, and at Duke University, where she served as Director of the Women’s Center and led professional development and assessment initiatives. Beyond her administrative and academic responsibilities, Helms Pickett is a dynamic author, speaker, dancer, and spiritual guide. Her work interweaves faith, empowerment, and cultural consciousness—including publications such as This Book Right Here: A 40 Week Devotional to Manifesting Your Purpose. She is also a Board Chair of the BRIDGES Advisory Board, a professional development program dedicated to supporting colleagues in higher education who seek to gain or strengthen their academic leadership capabilities.
With well over a decade of experience, Helms Pickett exemplifies the Women to KNOW standards—leading transformative initiatives and holding significant executive roles in higher education. Her work fosters inclusive environments and supports women’s advancement, aligning with the award’s emphasis on community impact, activism, and philanthropy. Just as importantly, her recognition illuminates the vital role of women of color in shaping the future of educational equity, making her a powerful model for leadership and belonging across North Carolina.
Helms Pickett’s inclusion in the Women to KNOW in North Carolina Class of 2025 is both a well-deserved tribute to her leadership and a milestone in her ongoing journey of service, scholarship, and spiritual guidance. It reflects how her career, spanning educational institutions, community engagement, and creative expression, continues to inspire and transform.
