Steph Bates Lancaster

With over 20 years in corporate HR and more than 10 years in leadership, Steph’s experience spans organizational planning and leadership development, employee engagement, employee relations, global benefits, training, compensation, and HR systems, primarily within the pharma and high-tech industries. Steph is passionate about the power of diverse groups and workforces and solving for the modern employee experience.

Steph enjoys teaching in the management department of the Cameron School of Business; bridging theory and application with her students, helping them imagine together what the future of work might look like and how they can connect and succeed in the workplaces they inhabit now and after graduation. In addition to teaching at UNCW, Steph is a corporate consultant/trainer and is involved in environmental volunteerism, advocacy, and education. She is an avid backpacker with a certification in Wilderness First Aid who practices as a certified Forest Bathing Guide through the global Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

Education

MBA, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Master’s thesis: Variables Affecting MBA and MSB Graduates’ Compensation and Pay Satisfaction

BA, Public Policy and Industrial Relations, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Community Engagement

Board of Directors, Cape Fear River Watch (2023-present); Nourish NC Volunteer (2025-present); DE&I Committee, Coastal Land Trust (2023-2024); Board of Directors, Island Montessori School (2012-2014); SHRM (1995-2007), Programming Chair on Cape Fear’s chapter executive board 2002 & 2003; Red Cross HR Advisory Board Volunteer 2005-2007