| Stedman Graham | |
|---|---|
Stedman Graham |
|
| Born | March 6, 1951 Whitesboro, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Hardin-Simmons University (B.S.W.) Ball State University (M.Ed.) |
| Known for | relationship with Oprah Winfrey. businessman, speaker, author |
| Home town | Whitesboro |
| Title | CEO, S. Graham & Associates |
| Board member of | Junior Achievement |
| Religion | Christian |
| Spouse | ex-wife Glenda (1974 - ?) |
| Partner | Oprah Winfrey (1986 - present) |
| Children | Daughter Wendy Graham (born 1975) |
| Parents | Mary Jones Graham and Stedman Graham, Sr. |
| Website | |
| stedmangraham.com | |
Stedman Graham (born March 6, 1951) 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."
Contents |
Graham was born on March 6, 1951, in Whitesboro, New Jersey. He received a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Hardin-Simmons University in 1974 and a Master's degree in Education from Ball State University in 1979.[1]
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.[2] Graham currently is employed as an adjunct professor at Full Sail University.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5] The foundation's multi-platform educational program is the vehicle Graham is using to help achieve this goal.[6] 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.[7]