Grace Schoeniger ‘85, Federal Agent

A lifelong learner, public servant, and artist, Grace Schoeniger ‘85 embodies the values instilled during her years at Stuart. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University at just 19, later earning a master’s in Sociology of Literature from Antioch University. Her early career in education evolved into leadership roles in statewide and federal programs focused on equal opportunity and justice.

After the birth of her second child, Grace made a bold career change—becoming a federal agent. She now serves with the Department of Defense, with assignments that have taken her across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including work at coalition headquarters during the Arab Spring. She has received numerous national security awards and remains grounded in service, curiosity, and faith.

Grace and her husband have been married for 35 years. Their son served in the U.S. Navy, and their daughter is completing her education at University of California, Santa Cruz. Despite the demands of her work, Grace has always prioritized family and community, volunteering in schools and remaining active in her synagogue.

She is also a published novelist and exhibiting photographer. What began as a way to document her travels became a creative outlet celebrating light, resilience, and beauty around the world.

Grace’s life is a living portrait of a Stuart graduate: intellectually curious, spiritually grounded, fearless in her pursuits, and deeply committed to justice. “Because of Stuart,” she once said, “I value knowledge and have been a lifelong learner.” That lifelong pursuit of learning and her unwavering heart shine through in every chapter of her story.