Her Story
About Stephanie
Stephanie Dorman serves as Deputy Town Manager for the Town of Louisa, Virginia, a role in which she works closely with the town manager, council members, department heads, and residents to keep municipal operations running smoothly. Her path into public service began outside of local government entirely, starting with paralegal work and later a position as an administrative assistant at the University of Virginia, where she handled Freedom of Information Act requests. That experience opened the door to a role as town clerk, and after roughly two and a half years in local government, she was promoted into her current position.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Stephanie is a full-time mother who has found a way to hold motherhood, a demanding career, and continued education together rather than treating them as competing priorities. She is currently working toward her MBA at Longwood University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology, and she is simultaneously enrolled in the Certified Public Manager program through the University of Virginia. Looking ahead, she hopes to grow into higher-level leadership positions such as county administrator or town manager.
What stands out most about Stephanie's story is her refusal to compartmentalize her ambitions. She credits her growth to recognizing her own capabilities and deliberately seeking out situations that push her to learn, speak up, and make difficult calls, and she describes her work as a kind of passion project because she lives in the community she serves and can see the tangible impact of her efforts. For Stephanie, leadership isn't about choosing between family and career goals — it's about carrying all of them forward together.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stephanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to recognizing that I am more capable than I once gave myself credit for and intentionally placing myself in situations that challenge me to learn, speak up, and make difficult decisions. The work I do feels like a passion project because I live in this community and see the direct impact of my efforts every day. That connection keeps me motivated and reminds me why the work matters.
Along the way, I've learned that advocating for myself does not mean being difficult. It means understanding my value and ensuring my voice is heard. I have been influenced by many women throughout my life, each demonstrating a different kind of strength. Some taught me how to lead, others showed me how to advocate for myself, and some proved that compassion and strength can coexist.
There was a period in my life that forced me to completely reevaluate who I was and what I wanted for my future. It would have been easy to let that moment define me, but instead, I chose to reflect, grow, and move forward with purpose. That experience shifted my focus toward my career, family, and education, ultimately propelling me toward becoming the woman I wanted to be.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think there's a lot of power in being able to walk into a room, know your worth, do your homework, speak thoughtfully, and not back down just because you're not the loudest person there - a skill I am still developing myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't wait until you feel completely ready. There will likely always be someone who is more knowledgeable or more experienced. That does not mean you do not belong. Just because it is male populated does not mean it is male dominated.
SHOW UP
SPEAK UP
KEEP LEARNING
BUILD PEOPLE
STAY YOU
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think there's a huge opportunity to develop the next generation of local government leaders. The workforce is changing and is providing an opportunity to step into leadership roles and bring new perspectives.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think my values have really been shaped by the things I've had to work through in my life. The biggest ones for me are hard work, resilience, advocating for people, and always trying to grow.
I've never really been someone who expects things to be handed to me. If I want something, I'm willing to work for it. And if I don't know how to do something, I'll figure it out. I've learned that sometimes the difference between giving up and succeeding is simply being willing to keep going when things get hard.
I also think advocacy is a huge part of who I am. I don't just want to advocate for myself; I want to be willing to speak up when I see something that isn't right or when someone else's voice isn't being heard. I think that's especially important in my work because local government is ultimately about serving people and making sure their concerns don't get lost in the process.
Personally, I've also learned that you can't always control what happens to you, but you can control what you do with it. Some of the hardest experiences in my life have made me more driven, not less. They've made me want to build something for myself, continue my education, grow professionally, and show my children what it looks like to keep moving forward.
So I think the common thread is that I'm a grinder. I work hard, I don't quit easily, and when I believe in something—or someone—I'm willing to use my voice and put in the work to make a difference
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