Stephanie Travis remembers constantly rearranging her room as a child, so it shouldn’t be surprising that she ended up with a Masters degree in Architecture. After working in D.C., she “got the NYC bug” and worked with an award-winning firm in Rockefeller Center. She met her husband, Mark, worked on really juicy projects and eventually came to the realization that she wanted to work with young designers and teach them the creativity of the design process. When a job as Director of the Interior Design Program at George Washington University became available, she jumped at the chance to move back to the DC area. Mark and Stephanie now have two children and live in Bethesda.

What are you most preoccupied with?
There is a lot going on at work, my program (GW Interior Design) is growing and getting stronger, with a focus on architectural space and pushing the boundaries of design. I love seeing what the students come up with, and encouraging them to think outside of the box.

What advice do you give to your students who want to become successful in their careers?
I tell them to be open to new experiences. You might not get your dream job right out of school, but you can learn from pretty much anyone. Exposure is really important. Try a large firm for a year or two for the experience, even if you know you ultimately want to work at a small firm. It actually looks good on your resume to move around when you are young to show you are versatile, and also to figure out what firm works best for you.

If not this, what?
If I ever stopped teaching, I would want to open my own firm. But, my style is extremely modern and DC tends to be somewhat conservative, so I might have to move to Los Angeles. However, since I moved back to this area, I've been happy to see that there are more modern furniture and design stores, more forward-thinking fashion, and some very cool restaurants and hotels.



Do you have a female role model?
Zaha Hadid, the only woman to ever win The Pritzker Prize (the most prestigious architecture award in the world). Talk about breaking the glass (and concrete, metal, etc.) ceiling.

To what do you most attribute your success?
Definitely my parents. They really emphasized education, yet didn't put a lot of pressure on me (or my sister). They let us find our own interests and follow our own paths (my sister is a law professor). I think that because I am very passionate about design, it also drives me to be successful in the field. My job doesn't stop at 5:00 pm. I'm constantly reading about architecture and design, visiting interesting buildings and interiors, exploring exhibits, and keeping up on the latest trends. If you can create a career from your interests, it isn't really a "job" in the typical sense, it's your life.

When not working, how do you relax?
When the kids are busy with play dates or activities, I might do a little shopping therapy or talk with girlfriends. I also love sketching and watercolor. It’s my yoga.

Finish the following:

Favorite activity to do with your kids:
The Family Programs at the National Gallery of Art. The kids learn about an artist, listen to a story, and then make something. It’s super cute, and free.

Favorite store: Barneys New York CO-OP (a little bit of NY in DC). Favorite clothing designer: Theory. It’s the perfect work uniform— clean, classic, and modern.

Favorite Metro DC hangout: (During the day)-The sculpture garden on the Mall (amazing art plus skating in the winter and jazz in the summer).
(During the evening)-The lobby of the W Hotel is a chic place to relax with my husband and friends.


Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Watching The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. Orange County, New York, Miami. I don’t care, I just love the drama.

What is your current state of mind?
I’ve worked hard to balance career and family, and I want to be a role model for my kids (especially my daughter) and show that you can have both.