Stephanie Kirijan Cooper is a partner at Lexicon Strategies and a corporate strategy, public affairs, and legal executive with experience advising organizations in complex, highly regulated industries, including energy and infrastructure. She is known for her ability to align business objectives with regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations, and community impact—helping organizations advance high-stakes initiatives with clarity and credibility.
Stephanie 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 strategic 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.
Previously, Stephanie was a senior executive at Southern Company, one of the largest investor-owned utilities and producers of electricity in the United States. She served as Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Alabama Power, one of Southern Company’s largest subsidiaries, where she built and led the company’s enterprise ESG function. In this role, she advanced governance frameworks, led sustainability reporting and disclosures, and advised on regulatory and stakeholder dynamics in an evolving policy environment. She represented the company in national forums including the Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, and Next Grid Alliance.
Prior to that, as Vice President of Public Relations at Alabama Power, she led enterprise reputation and communications strategy for one of the most recognized and trusted brands in the state, advising senior leadership through crises, regulatory scrutiny, and industry disruption. Her work spanned media relations, executive positioning, internal communications, and stakeholder engagement across diverse audiences. She also served on the team supporting Southern Company’s enterprise brand evolution following the acquisition of multiple gas subsidiaries.
Stephanie’s earlier experience includes roles across Southern Company and Georgia Power, also one of the company’s largest subsidiaries, spanning corporate communications and regulatory strategy, helping position the company as a thought leader in the rapidly evolving energy industry. She also served as legal counsel, advising on environmental, real estate, and transactional matters.
She began her career in public service in Georgia as an Assistant District Attorney and Public Information Officer, and previously served as Deputy Press Secretary and Campaign Press Secretary to Governor Roy Barnes and as Public Information Officer for Secretary of State Cathy Cox.
Actively engaged in civic and nonprofit leadership, Stephanie volunteers with Chastain Horse Park’s therapeutic riding program, and is involved with organizations such as the Marcus Autism Center, Atlanta Ballet, and the State Bar of Georgia. She has been recognized as one of Birmingham Magazine’s “Women Who Shape the State” and named to Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40.”