Stephanie Kirijan Cooper Joins Lexicon Strategies as Partner
Senior Energy Executive to Advise Clients on Corporate Strategy, Reputation Management, Stakeholder Engagement and Regulatory Complexity
ATLANTA, GA – Stephanie Kirijan Cooper, a senior executive with experience leading corporate strategy, public relations and sustainability in the energy sector, has joined Lexicon Strategies as Partner. With a career spanning Southern Company—one of the largest energy producers in the United States—and its two largest subsidiaries, Georgia Power and Alabama Power, Cooper brings deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments, aligning stakeholder interests and guiding organizations through crises, rapid industry shifts and modernization.
“Stephanie operates at a level where strategy, policy and reputation intersect with tremendous positive effect,” said Lexicon Strategies Managing Partner Brian Tolleson. “Remarkably, Stephanie has held roles leading these functions in one of the most complex industries in the country – and that is the exact profile our clients need when the regulatory, reputational and business matters are intertwined with community outcomes.”
Cooper most recently served as interim Chief Strategy Officer to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where she helped guide governance modernization and long-range planning during a $60 million capital expansion and institutional transformation. Working closely with executive leadership and the board, she supported efforts to align mission, operations and growth strategy during a pivotal period for the organization.
Previously, Cooper served as Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Alabama Power, where she built and led the company’s enterprise ESG function. She advanced governance frameworks, enhanced transparency and strengthened stakeholder engagement amid evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations. In this role, she positioned environmental stewardship and responsible land management as core drivers of operational resilience. Earlier, as Vice President of Public Relations, she led enterprise reputation and communications strategy, advising senior leadership through crisis, policy change and periods of heightened scrutiny.
Stephanie Kirijan Cooper
Cooper’s experience with corporate strategy, regulatory navigation, crisis leadership and stakeholder engagement, enable her to support clients facing complex public, political and business challenges. Her background also includes regulatory and real estate legal roles at Georgia Power, where she provided counsel on merger and acquisition, land purchases for large scale development, renewable energy and environmental matters, as well as early career experience as a communications strategist for statewide elected officials.
“Lexicon brings together senior advisors to deliver meaningful outcomes,” said Lexicon Strategies Co-Founder Billy Linville. “Stephanie has a proven ability to connect community impact, regulatory dynamics, and business and legal priorities in a way that helps our clients act with confidence whether they are deploying large scale infrastructure investments or something less capital intensive.”
A trusted advisor to the C-Suite, Cooper is known for integrating policy, regulation and stakeholder dynamics into clear, actionable strategy that drives durable business growth, manages risk and strengthens credibility.
Cooper holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia, and a certificate in Sustainability Leadership from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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About Lexicon Strategies
Lexicon Strategies is a leading community and social impact consulting firm committed to the principle, “We find the right thing. And we do it right.” Our clients engage directly with our team of seasoned executives and successful entrepreneurs, who leverage their extensive experience and cutting-edge technologies to drive positive impact on communities and businesses. For more information, visit lexiconstrategies.com.