Stephanie Unhoch Cross ’92, ’94 knows Winchester.
She was born and raised here, and earned both her Associate of Science in Respiratory Care and her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from ĻӰ.
After graduating, Cross moved away from the area for about 10 years, and has since returned with a desire to give back to the university that has given her so much. “It is very exciting to be back and see the growth that has occurred, as well as the continued vision of the university leadership for this growth,” she says. Her main goal in serving on the SU Alumni Board of Directors is to “participate in events and activities that keep the university’s history alive and contribute to future successes.”
Cross serves as an assistant professor in the Division of Respiratory Care at Shenandoah, working mostly out of the Northern Virginia Campus located in Leesburg. She has a vast knowledge and expertise gained through her professional experiences, which she now passes on to her students in the Cardiopulmonary Physiology and Mechanical Ventilation classes she teaches. She has worked as a respiratory therapist at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville, Va. and Stanford Hospital in Stanford, Calif. Throughout her career, Cross has served as a lead therapist, supervisor and education coordinator.
She has many personal and professional contacts in the Winchester area, and now, as a resident of Loudoun County, she hopes to develop those same types of contacts and “provide a perspective for the Northern Virginia Campus.” Cross serves as a healthcare professional representative on the Loudoun Health Council, which serves to improve the health of Loudoun County and prepare for outbreaks.
Her volunteerism doesn’t stop there. Cross participated in the July 2009 Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps Medical Expedition to Wise, Va. This program provides free medical care to remote areas in and outside of the United States. She has also served as a member of the Northern Virginia Asthma Coalition, which works to increase asthma awareness and education throughout Loudoun and Fairfax counties.
Cross looks back on her time at Shenandoah with fond memories and a grateful attitude.
My education at Shenandoah gave me a solid foundation for my career as a respiratory therapist. In addition to the classroom education, I formed lifelong friendships and was provided opportunities for diverse experiences, from singing with the Harambee Gospel Choir to playing on the softball team.”
In addition to serving on the SU Alumni Board of Directors, Cross is a member of the Respiratory Therapy Advisory Council. She earned her Master of Science degree in Occupational and Technical Studies at Old Dominion University. Cross lives in Sterling, Va. with her husband, Walker, and their two daughters, Allison and Justine.