Bryanna Stigger (she/her/hers) is a Newark, Ohio native. She graduated from Newark High School (NHS) in 2008 and earned her associates degree in business management technology from Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) in 2010. During her time at COTC, she was affiliated with several local organizations including the Newark Rotary Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was President of Ebony Horizons, a Black leadership association for students at COTC and Ohio State Newark. Bryanna coordinated and participated in COTC’s first-ever Italian Cultural Immersion Program. Because of her extraordinary commitment to the Newark campus and community, Bryanna was honored with several awards including the Multi-Cultural Affairs Faculty/Staff Award, the Kelly SaffleLeadership Award, and Community Service Leader of the Year. In 2020, Bryanna was named as a member of the Newark Advocate’s 20 under 40. Due to her illustrious leadership, out of 15,000 graduates, Bryanna was honorably named one of COTC’s top 50 notable alumni.
Bryanna is actively involved in the Newark community. She currently serves as an ex-offico board member of A Call to College. She has volunteered with Par Excellence Academy, the Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross. Her passion for helping others grew from seeing her mother, Kaye Stigger, Case Manager at Licking County Job and Family Services, advocate for services, support, and resources for Licking County residents over the last 25 years. Bryanna is a member of Bethel Rock House of Prayer where her grandmother, Regina C. Stigger, served as a faithful servant for over four decades. She prides herself on being an advocate and champion for marginalized and oppressed groups.
Bryanna is a trailblazer, advocate, and activist who has served as the Licking County NAACP President since May 2020. During her tenure, she has hosted a variety of inclusive programs and initiatives to support, educate and empower Licking County residents. Bryanna is a dynamic leader who always possesses a positive attitude and inspires us all to be the change we wish to see in the world. In collaboration with the Licking County Foundation, Bryanna established the first ever Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) scholarship in Licking County.
Since graduating from COTC in 2010, Bryanna has successfully completed both her bachelors degree in business administrationand masters degree in business psychology from Franklin University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program within the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University and will graduate in May 2023. In her professional career, Bryanna is the Program Manager for Inclusive Excellence in the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University where she manages diversity education programs and professional development workshops to advance the diversity and inclusion mission and vision of the college. Bryanna is also a certified professional life coach, and she is CEO and Founder of her very own coaching and consulting business, Bry Inspired, where she strives to elevate, inspire, and empower individuals to live the life of their dreams.
Due to her outstanding accomplishments Bryanna received the 2021 Black Excellence Award in Educational Studies and this year she received the 2022 EHE Legacy Award from the Office of Engagement, Discovery, and Global Education at The Ohio State University. Bryanna provided the 2021 COTC commencement address and she most recently provided the NHS commencement address where she was honored with the 2022 Alumni Impact Award. COTC just honored Bryanna with the 2022 “Jay” Barker Community Service Alumni Award for her service and transformational impact in her community. The Licking County NAACP awarded Bryanna the 2023 Women of Empowerment Award and Franklin University recognized her with the 2023 Alumni Social Impact Award.
