Empowering the Next Generation: A Conversation with Dr. Tracy Baynes
In this episode of Conversations with Karen and Cat, we sit down with Dr. Tracy Baynes — oceanographer, educator, and visionary leader committed to expanding college access for low-income high-school students. After earning her doctorate from the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography and conducting coral reef research, Tracy shifted her focus to teaching, developing field courses for institutions like Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center, Sea Education Association, the University of Pittsburgh, and more.
In 2004, she founded STEP, a transformative college-prep and leadership program serving Arizona teens. Today, 96% of STEP alumni are in college or have earned a degree — a testament to the power of mentorship, leadership training, and immersive educational experiences.
This episode explores Tracy’s passion for youth empowerment and the life-changing impact of STEP.
Contact information for Dr. Baynes
tbaynes@stepexpedition.org
https://www.stepexpedition.org/impact
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Tracy Baynes
CEO
Tracy Baynes is the Founder and CEO of STEP: Student Expedition Program (STEP College-Prep) – a college access and leadership program for low-income Arizona high-school students. She received her doctorate in oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1993. After several years as a coral reef researcher, Tracy turned her full focus to teaching in 1996. She taught and developed field courses for Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center, Sea Education Association, University of Pittsburgh, Long Island University, and Prescott College, including a tall-ship-based ocean semester on the west coast, sailing from California to the Sea of Cortez, Mexico and across the Pacific to Hawaii. In 2004, Tracy founded STEP’s College-Prep and Leadership Program with the focused mission of educating and empowering low-income Arizona high-school students to enroll in and graduate from college. To date, 96% of STEP’s College-Prep Program alumni are in college or have attained a college degree.
