Educate | Advocate | Titillate
Stef Woods is an educator, public speaker, writer, former practicing attorney, and breast cancer survivor and advocate.
In December 2008, Stef began writing about relationships, sex and dating on her website, City Girl’s Blog™. She wrote under the pseudonym, “City Girl,” in the hopes of protecting her career as an attorney.
In 2010, at the age of 37, Stef was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has openly shared her experience with others via photographs, interviews, runway shows, panel discussions and her blog to encourage early detection and raise awareness. In 2011, Stef began using her real name in the blogging world to facilitate her advocacy work.
For eight years, Stef Woods was a faculty member with the American Studies Program at American University. She specialized in American popular culture, digital culture, sexuality studies, nonprofits, and activism. Stef also served as Faculty Director for AUx1, helping students transition to their first year at AU and chair of the Faculty Senate Committee on Information Services. Stef received the university-wide Teaching with Technology Award, and the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Innovation in Teaching.
Stef has been featured in numerous print and online publications, including The Daily Beast, NPR.com, Fast Company, Today.com, Cosmopolitan, Forbes.com, Associated Press, Washingtonian, TeenVogue.com, and USA TODAY College. She was interviewed for her 50 Shades Trilogy and Hunger Games curricula by MSNBC, WTOP, and FOX 5 DC. Her courses also have been highlighted by The New York Times’ Education Life section, Entertainment Weekly magazine, Buzzfeed and Business Insider. Stef was profiled as a breast cancer survivor on WebMD, Refinery29 and HealthIT.gov, as well as Women’s Health and Sibley Hospital’s On Health magazines.
Stef regularly speaks about American popular culture at The Smithsonian. She is a frequent panelist on nonprofits, branding, activism, health and social media. She has presented at Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Wellesley College, George Washington University, University of Kansas, Temple University, and Rutgers University. She is the co-chair of the Heart of Fashion event to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
She received her BA from Wellesley College, her MALS from Georgetown University, and her JD from American University. Stef is a supporting member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors & Therapists (AASECT) and a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Stef’s most important role is as a mom to her seven-year-old daughter, Roya.