Stephanie Ejezie, '26 BSc

Stephanie Ejezie, Integrative Biology

Stephanie Ejezie always remembers what her father once told her: “When choosing what you want to do in life, choose something that never feels forced to learn.” She has always loved biology, so it was clear that was the right academic path — and with her plan to pursue a medical degree, Augustana’s integrative biology major would provide the strong foundation she needed.

Drawn to Augustana for its close-knit environment, Stephanie was thrilled to discover the campus’s one-on-one interactions with professors, various opportunities to get involved, and ease of building meaningful friendships were exactly as she had imagined they would be.

We caught up with Stephanie — student ambassador, residence hall coordinator, treasurer of Augustana’s Afro-Youth Club and more — as she graduates with her bachelor of science.

Congratulations, Stephanie!

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at Augustana?

One of my favourite memories at Augustana would have to be the Black is King event hosted by the Afro-Youth Club, which I helped organize and execute. It was such an amazing and fun night spent with friends, and seeing months of hard work finally come to life felt incredibly surreal and rewarding. What made it even more special was seeing everyone who attended genuinely enjoying themselves, connecting with one another, and sharing great food together. It was one of those moments that truly made me appreciate the sense of community at Augustana.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favourite professor would have to be Dr. Stephanie Oliver. Although she was not a biology professor, I am graduating with a certificate in writing studies and had the opportunity to take several English classes with her. She is someone who is deeply invested in her students, and that is something I truly admire and appreciate in a professor.

Associate professor Oliver helped me realize that my path could extend beyond medicine alone and into the field of medical humanities, a field I did not even know existed before taking her classes. She showed me what a strong critical thinker and writer I am, which gave me a great deal of confidence and encouraged me to speak up more in class because I knew my insights were valued.

She also consistently shared opportunities that she thought would interest me, several of which I ended up participating in. While her classes definitely challenged me and required a lot of work, I genuinely enjoyed every course I took with her. She is an incredible professor, and I truly believe every student should experience at least one class with her during their degree.

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student, either on campus or in the Camrose community? 

As a resident assistant for two years, I supported students as they adjusted to university life, helped mediate conflicts, and worked to build a supportive and welcoming community in residence. I later became a hall coordinator, which gave me the opportunity to supervise and support a team of 14 resident assistants and help coordinate programs and initiatives for students.

I also worked as a teaching assistant for first-year biology and a learning assistant in first-year chemistry labs. In those roles, I really enjoyed being able to support students academically, whether that was explaining difficult concepts or just helping them feel more confident in what they were learning.

Outside of academics and residence life, I was involved as a student ambassador, an international students event assistant and treasurer of the Afro-Youth Club. All of these roles gave me different ways to connect with students, whether through events, outreach or behind-the-scenes planning.

How did you get where you are today?

I believe that my faith and trust in God have played a major role in bringing me to where I am today and continue to guide me toward where I hope to be in the future. There were many moments when I set big goals for myself and questioned whether I was being unrealistic, but God showed me that I was not, and that nothing is impossible with Him by my side.

My family and friends have also been an incredible source of support and motivation. They believed in me even during moments when I struggled to believe in myself. They encouraged me to keep growing, listened to me during difficult times and reminded me to find joy and laughter even when life felt overwhelming.

At the same time, I also give credit to myself. While I was fortunate to have such a strong support system, I still had to put in the work and push myself forward. I have always had big dreams for my future, and constantly reminding myself of those dreams helped me keep going, even during the moments when giving up felt easier. Learning to face challenges with courage and determination is something I am deeply proud of, and every hurdle I overcame has shaped me into the person I am today.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Take things one step at a time. As students, we often forget that we are only human and that there are healthier ways of managing our goals. We try to accomplish a million things in a day and then beat ourselves up when we can’t fit everything into 24 hours.

I’ve learned to celebrate even the small wins and to “cut my coat according to my size,” adjusting my expectations when needed instead of overwhelming myself. There are times when you may not achieve the goals you set for a semester — maybe you don’t get the A you wanted, but that does not define who you are, and it is never the end of the world.

If I think back to my first year, I know I would be surprised by how I see things now. Putting excessive pressure on yourself doesn’t help you succeed, especially when you are also managing expectations from others. So take it easy on yourself, and give yourself grace when you need it.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I plan to celebrate convocation by going out for dinner with my family and close friends. Nothing too elaborate, as I will have to be back at work the next day.

What's next after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to work while preparing for my next step, which is pursuing medical school. I’m also looking forward to exploring the different opportunities my degree can open up, and being open to where the journey leads me.