Christopher L. Stefani, BAr’14, MAr’16, was named to the 2020 list of ’20 in their 20s’ early career high achievers in the May 4 edition of Crain’s Detroit Business.

Christopher Sefani. LTU file photo.

Stefani, 29, is associate director of LTU’s Detroit Center for Design + Technology. He started in this role in 2017 to coincide with the launch of DCDT’s Design Incubator service, funded by the Hudson Webber Foundation, after four years of working for the university in other roles. As associate director, he developed the DCDT’s space rental and co-work programs, and secured in-kind contributions of products from the Michigan-based furniture companies Haworth Inc., Herman Miller Inc., and Steelcase Inc.

Stefani also helped develop the DCDT’s extensive outreach work with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, starting with a single art class at Denby High School in 2015. Now, the program includes numerous dual enrollment programs at a growing number of schools. More than 60 percent of the students who participate in these programs that go on to college.

Stefani told Crain’s he can identify with struggling students, having worked through his own learning issues with attention deficit disorder and dyslexia.

Stefani also has his own practice, the C.L. Stefani Co., founded in Detroit in 2016.

At DCDT, Stefani has also forged partnerships with organizations such as Detroit Future City, the Educational Achievement Authority of Michigan, the American Institute of Architects, the National Order of Minority Architects, and more.