Stephanie Bultema, PhD
Director of MERLIN (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Innovations)
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Get to know Stephanie:
Stephanie has been with PHIL since 2020. She serves as research Principal Investigator and directs the scientific vision and strategy for PHIL, including strategic development and administrative oversight of PHIL’s MERLIN (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, & Learning Innovations) team. Stephanie leads multiple research teams, designs research methodologies, and provides strategic guidance and oversite of research activities. She is also deeply involved with other aspects of PHIL’s research, including performing and supervising research activities, preparing reports, authoring scholarly publications, and presenting research at national conferences. When not using evidence to advance population health and health equity, you can find Stephanie on adventures with her husband in Colorado’s mountains and canyons.
Experience:
Before joining the PHIL team, Stephanie worked as Senior Researcher in the Center on Network Science (2017-2020) and principal consultant of Bultema Consulting LLC (2018-2020). She served as a public health professional from 2010-2017, most recently as Assessment Epidemiologist. Her recent community service includes volunteering on the Colorado Public Health Association’s Culture of Data Annual Conference planning committee (2024-present), acting as Co-President of the School of Public Affairs PhD Student Association (2019-2020), serving as President of the School Health Care Association of Spokane County (2015-2017), and as Board Member for Communities in Schools of Spokane County (2015-2017). Stephanie earned an M.A. in Administrative Leadership from Whitworth University, with additional coursework completed through Washington State University’s Master of Health Policy and Administration program. She earned a PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado Denver, studying collaborative governance in health-focused partnerships.
Expertise:
Public Administration; Collaborative Governance; Network Science
Languages:
English (native), French (rusty conversational), Turkish (basic conversational), Spanish (basic conversational)
