Learn more about
Dr. Rachelle Stevens
Rachelle was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in Northern California. She embarked upon her higher education from the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas at the age of sixteen. She graduated in 1984 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems and Management as a double major. Her professional career began at Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), United States Forces Command (US FORSCOM) as a management analyst assigned to HQ, Fifth US Army, San Antonio.
Rachelle Stevens is an author, researcher and educator with over 20 years of experience in the field of humanities. In addition to her multiple earned degrees Dr. Stevens was conferred a doctorate of humanities from H.E. Wood Bible Institute and Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia. She has been recognized for her contributions to the field of humanities reflecting her accomplishments and expertise. Additionally, she has contributed to numerous published articles in Africa.
Rachelle has been married to her husband, Todd, for over forty years, and they have two sons: Julian, and Christian.
In December 1993, the Stevens family moved to Lagos, Nigeria, residing there for twelve years as expatriates. This was an adventure, journey, and experience that forever changed their lives and perspectives of the Western world, which they were native.
During these twelve years, Mrs. Stevens (affectionately known as Madame) in Nigeria saw the need to get involved in the country and not be confined to the fishbowl compound life of the traditional expatriate wife. It was imperative for her not to let what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience pass her by—and she did not! She traveled to almost every nook and corner of Nigeria and every quadrant of sub-Saharan Africa. She has also traveled extensively in Europe.
In October 2009, Rachelle once again moved for another overseas assignment with her husband to London, England, where he was vice president of Sub-Sahara Africa Upstream Ventures for ExxonMobil, residing there for eleven years. Due to the frequency of her visits and length of each stay, it was fair to say that she concurrently resided in both the United States and the United Kingdom for eleven years.
Rachelle’s knowledge and experience from international travels has presented her with many extraordinary opportunities in both Europe and Africa. She received an esteemed invitation by the dean of multicultural studies at Marietta College, Ohio, to lecture classes on West African culture and perspectives.
Rachelle served as president and member of the board of directors of the American Women’s Club (AWC) of Lagos, Nigeria. This experience afforded her the opportunity to sponsor and manage the academic development of several university students who are today highly skilled professionals, giving back to both their families and communities respectively. She was founder and CEO of Pure Magic Entertainment Foundation (PMEF), a diverse entertainment organization with the primary objective and mission to support, promote, and sustain Nigerian youths gifted in music and fine arts. Through PMEF, Rachelle managed a world-class jazz band called “Spectrum 4 Jazz Ensemble” and was executive producer of their CD projects.
Other projects in the entertainment industry included being a featured guest on TV talk shows as a youth advocate and sponsor in music, a national pageant director of the Most Beautiful Girl and Miss Commonwealth heads of government, a model influencer for Genevieve magazine and an actress on a CNN international commercial to promote the extraordinary advancement of women in West Africa and was also a guest speaker and lecturer for the rotary club of Lagos. The lecture was presented on, “Music Used as an Effective Tool Against Poverty and Violence in Youths”. In 2013, she was featured in the UK Daily News newspaper for her bespoke sense of style and fashion during Royal Ascot, just to mention a few.
Currently, Rachelle is an enthusiastic proprietor of Elite Access, LLC, a global lifestyle consultancy offering the full spectrum of bespoke design solutions for interior design and motivational speaking. Her most treasured accomplishment as an interior designer has been an original ornate elaborate in-home chapel called the Prayer Room, which was requested for audition during the Architectural Digest 2007 interior design Texas Open.
She also volunteered as a mentor to the Prairie View A&M University women’s track team. Rachelle provided motivational counseling, fundraising support and liaised with students and the head coach to encourage optimal productivity and balance during the school year. She has served in the capacity as both member and leader in both professional and christian organizations.
Recently in October 2021, Rachelle finally moved with her husband to Maputo, Mozambique. This pre-pandemic move that was delayed will undoubtedly lend itself to more excursions of opportunity to learn, grow, cultivate, and give back that which was given in wisdom and with heart.
Rachelle’s main focus at this time is to take on challenges, seize opportunities, and help others as well through motivation and positive lifestyle changes.
“My travels around the world have definitely taught me how to manage cultural differences,” she says. “But still I hold dearly to my grandmother’s life motto: ‘There’s only one way to do something, and that’s the right way.’”