Stephanie A. Watkins
Regional Administrator, Region III
U.S. Small Business Administration

President George W. Bush in 2004 appointed Stephanie A. Watkins to serve as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region III. The Regional Office headquarters is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As Regional Administrator, Ms. Watkins is responsible for the delivery and management of the SBA’s financial assistance, business development, and advocacy programs throughout the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. During fiscal year 2006, district offices in Region III approved 8,400 loans to small business owners for more than $1.4 billion.

Ms. Watkins learned first-hand about the rewards and hardships associated with small business ownership through her father, who owned a small construction firm. Personally, as a shareholder in an asset management firm, she researched potential partners during the firm’s startup phase. She also was engaged in public relations and business development of the pension fund company. Her involvement in the business solidified an appreciation for the challenges of starting and developing a successful business.

After graduating high school, Ms. Watkins attended the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Ms. Watkins’ career in higher education is extensive. Her experience includes 15 years in medical school admissions. She held the position of financial aid administrator and a career counselor on the university level. Under the administration of former President George H.W. Bush, she served as an appointee in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education.

Most recently, Ms. Watkins served as a medical school administrator at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she managed a client portfolio of more than 150 students and screened more than 1,000 medical school applications. She is actively involved in her church and other community organizations.

A native of Montclair, New Jersey, she currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Joseph. They have two daughters and one son, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.