Interview with Stephen White, Esq. of COSI Museum

Tracy sits down with Stephen White, Chief Strategy Officer at COSI (one of her favorite science museums!), and discusses learning lunchboxes, the power of STEM, and engaging exhibits that people love.

Mr. Stephen White, Esq. is the Chief Strategy Officer, and serves as In-House Counsel at the Center for Science and Industry (COSI), the number one science center in the nation by USA Today. During his career, he founded the theory of Servant Learning as an engagement strategy to help bridge the “COVID Canyon” education gap with the philosophy to inspire others to dream more, do more, and become more. In his role at COSI, he oversees the development of optimizing the entrepreneurial business model for the organization, building new models of impactful education programming, creating and implementing a global strategy for public partnerships at the city, state, and federal levels, and leading the execution of COSI’s Strategic Plan.

A signature initiative during his career was the creation of the Learning Lunchbox model of engagement, which seeks to, among other things, help feed hungry lives and feed hungry minds. These STEM kits are developed in partnership with the White House, NASA, U.S. Department of Energy, and more, with over 150,000 being distributed across the globe. Stephen is the recipient of several awards, including the U.K. Global Blooloop 50 Influencer, Midwest Museum Association Leadership Award, 40 Under 40, Columbus CEO Future 50, the John Glenn Young Alumni Achievement Award, and more. He has over a decade of experience in partnerships and policy, including serving as General Counsel in the U.S. Senate, where he worked on critical areas of public policy to help address issues such as workforce development and education.

As a first-generation student, Mr. White earned three degrees, all from The Ohio State University, including his B.A. in English and Political Science, J.D. from the OSU Moritz College of Law, and his M.A. in Public Policy and Management from the OSU John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and extended his learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the OSU Moritz College of Law covering nonprofit law and leadership, as well as several state and federal boards including as Chair of the International Space Station Subcommittee on Education. He has served as a speaker at SXSW EDU, U.S. Department of Education, TEDx, and other conferences examining innovative strategies on partnerships to help address workforce development and education equity.