Co-Chair | Melanoma Research Alliance

Stephanie Kauffman is the president and chief operating officer for the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest private, non-profit funder of melanoma research in the world.  Stephanie is responsible for leading MRA’s business and impact operations, communications, digital, development and engagement strategies.

Prior to joining the Melanoma Research Alliance, Stephanie held senior leadership positions at global health and medical research organizations.  Most recently, Stephanie was the head of strategic partnerships for Americares, a leading health equity organization responding to disasters, pandemics and humanitarian crises with life-changing medical aid and health services, driving double digit growth from corporate, foundation and public funding partnerships and alliances.  

Stephanie is also the former chief communications and partnerships officer for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world.  During her BCRF tenure, Stephanie led communications, media, digital, mobile, metaverse, corporate and affiliate partner strategies.  She spearheaded BCRF’s brand modernization, thought leadership and digital evolution and at the helm at partnerships, she solidified BCRF’s leadership position with corporate partners, growing BCRF’s partnership revenue by 40%.  

Before she pivoted into the global health and cancer research space, she was an entertainment executive at Universal Studios, a division of NBCUniversal. Stephanie held the role of senior vice president, global alliances for Universal’s worldwide film, home entertainment, staged productions, consumer products and theme parks business units responsible for Universal’s corporate partnerships, sponsorships, brand integrations and co-branded marketing campaigns for Universal’s portfolio of global brand alliances.  

A passionate advocate of leadership development throughout her career, Stephanie co-chairs the board of directors for the International Women’s Media Foundation, an organization that supports women journalists and developing their careers with a mission of creating gender equity in the global newsroom. She also serves as a mentor for the 92Y Women in Power Fellows. 

Stephanie holds a B.S. in Marketing Management from Florida Southern College.