Professional Experience:
Mariana Stephens is a visionary executive with over 20 years of global experience driving transformative impact across public health and business strategy. Her expertise centers on managing complex, multi-million-dollar portfolios, pioneering program design, and developing innovative, evidence-based solutions for organizations working in challenging environments.
Mariana most recently served as Deputy Director and Senior Associate Director, Special Programs at the Task Force for Global Health, Emory University (2015–2024). Based in Atlanta and active in various countries, she led strategic initiatives to develop and implement robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks for large-scale international health programs. Mariana ensured high standards for data collection and analysis, conducted site visits in remote settings, and oversaw teams to guarantee program adherence, quality, and timely execution.
Prior to this, she held the role of Director, Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation at Habitat for Humanity International (2012–2015). Mariana created and refined global M&E frameworks, guided documentation standards, and provided training and capacity building for international staff—fostering a culture of continuous improvement and delivering results across Habitat's global initiatives.
As a consultant for CARE Canada’s Emergency Unit (2012), Mariana advised on food and nutrition assessments in refugee camp settings in Djibouti, ensuring interventions met international standards and identifying gaps and opportunities for maternal and child health programming. In Ethiopia’s Horn of Africa Emergency Response, she served as an Emergency Assessment Advisor (CARE USA, 2011), helping to integrate emergency responses with long-term nutrition and health initiatives.
From 2008 to 2011, Mariana served as Global Nutritionist at World Vision International’s Global Center in the Philippines, where she developed school feeding policies, conducted field assessments, and contributed data-driven insights to improve nutrition and food security programs. Her work strengthened collaboration among national, regional, and international offices.
Earlier, as Technical Advisor, Health Unit (Child Health & Nutrition) at CARE USA (2005–2008), Mariana supported M&E for USAID-funded programs across six countries, focusing on maternal and child health, nutrition, disease control, and program evaluation. She contributed to infectious disease control efforts for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and provided technical backstopping in various health, emergency, and economic livelihood domains.
Her earlier leadership roles include Director of Program Services and Public Affairs at March of Dimes Georgia Chapter (2000–2004), where she managed maternal and child health programs, maintained legislative advocacy, and implemented statewide health initiatives. Mariana also led prevention programming as Director of Prevention at Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (1997–2000), engaging agencies and partners to maximize public health impact.
Mariana’s international experience began as a WASH Resource Manager with the United States Peace Corps (1990–1993), leading rural water and sanitation infrastructure projects in Zaire and Mali, and empowering local leaders in health education.
Her work, spanning more than 20 countries, demonstrates a consistent record of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to improving health equity and operational effectiveness on a global scale.