Stedman Graham
Encyclopedia
Stedman Graham is an American
educator, author
, businessman and speaker, who has also served in the United States Army
, although he is primarily known as the partner of media mogul Oprah Winfrey
. Graham and Winfrey were engaged to be married in November 1992, but later decided they would rather have a "spiritual union."
in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University
in 1974 and a Master's degree
in Education from Ball State University
in 1979.
Graham is an entrepreneur and CEO of S. Graham & Associates, a Chicago-based corporate and educational marketing and consulting firm. He is also founder of AAD (formerly, Athletes Against Drugs), a non-profit organization that provides services to youth and has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships since its founding in 1985.
Graham currently is employed as an adjunct professor at Full Sail University.
Graham was the constant companion of WFLD-TV anchor Robin Robinson from 1982-1985. Graham has been the subject of much publicity since 1986, most notably through tabloid articles claiming to chronicle his ongoing relationship with Winfrey. Graham has been dating Winfrey for over 25 years.
Recently, his one-time connection to conservative
commentator Armstrong Williams
has received a great deal of media attention, the two having founded a public relations firm, the Graham-Williams Group, some 14 years ago. Williams was censured for accepting $250,000 in U.S. government funds for publicly praising the No Child Left Behind Act
without admitting he had been paid to do so. Graham was not implicated, and although Williams has retained the company name, Graham has no financial interest in the firm.
Graham is represented by several Speaker's Bureaus and receives between $15,000 - $20,000 per appearance.
In 2008, Graham founded the My Life Is About Foundation
, an non-profit educational foundation aimed at helping teens discover their full potential. The foundation's multi-platform educational program is the vehicle Graham is using to help achieve this goal. Based on Graham's best selling book You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan For Success, The My Life Is About Foundation is committed to and will be providing a sustainable learning model that students and educators can engage in through a four-year process. The program is implemented during the freshman year of high school and remains at the students' disposal through graduation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, businessman and speaker, who has also served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, although he is primarily known as the partner of media mogul Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
. Graham and Winfrey were engaged to be married in November 1992, but later decided they would rather have a "spiritual union."
Education
Graham was born on March 6, 1951, in Whitesboro, New Jersey. He received a Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
in 1974 and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Education from Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
in 1979.
Business career
Graham currently is employed as an adjunct professor at Full Sail University.
Graham was the constant companion of WFLD-TV anchor Robin Robinson from 1982-1985. Graham has been the subject of much publicity since 1986, most notably through tabloid articles claiming to chronicle his ongoing relationship with Winfrey. Graham has been dating Winfrey for over 25 years.
Recently, his one-time connection to conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
commentator Armstrong Williams
Armstrong Williams
Armstrong Williams is an African American political commentator, author of a conservative newspaper column, and host of a daily radio show and a nationally syndicated TV program, called The Right Side with Armstrong Williams. From 2004 to 2007, he co-hosted a daily radio program with Sam...
has received a great deal of media attention, the two having founded a public relations firm, the Graham-Williams Group, some 14 years ago. Williams was censured for accepting $250,000 in U.S. government funds for publicly praising the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
without admitting he had been paid to do so. Graham was not implicated, and although Williams has retained the company name, Graham has no financial interest in the firm.
Graham is represented by several Speaker's Bureaus and receives between $15,000 - $20,000 per appearance.
In 2008, Graham founded the My Life Is About Foundation
My Life Is About
My Life Is About is a multi-platform educational program created by Stedman Graham and The My Life Is About Foundation.-My Life Is About Foundation:...
, an non-profit educational foundation aimed at helping teens discover their full potential. The foundation's multi-platform educational program is the vehicle Graham is using to help achieve this goal. Based on Graham's best selling book You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan For Success, The My Life Is About Foundation is committed to and will be providing a sustainable learning model that students and educators can engage in through a four-year process. The program is implemented during the freshman year of high school and remains at the students' disposal through graduation.
External links
- Stedman Graham's home page
- Stedman Graham's Charity AAD home page
- Stedman Graham Profile Page - Video clip, book listings, speaking topics.
- Stedman Graham's ExecutiveBiz Executive Spotlight Interview - Executive Spotlight Interview
- An interview with Stedman Graham
- Stedman Graham – Who Are You
- CNN LARRY KING LIVE Interview With Stedman Graham