Hop on Pop and Goodnight Moon are two of the most nostalgic children’s books and always put a smile on one Syracuse University student’s face. Stephanie Breed ’15, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences recently took a trip down memory lane, only to discover her “present.”

Breed, an art history major with a minor in Whitman School of Management’s entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises interned at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, where she says she paid homage to the Syracuse born author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

A member of the prestigious Renée Crown University Honors Program, Breed is known around campus for her love of the arts and literature. She says her internship at the Eric Carle Museum was everything she dreamed it would be and then some.

“The museum combines my two passions - art and children’s books - and was basically a dream come true,” says Breed, who says the College of Arts and Sciences played a huge role in helping her succeed during her internship.

Although born in Rochester, Breed spent most of her childhood in Manlius, just a few miles away from the Syracuse University campus. In high school, Breed fostered her creativity, spending her free time making jewelry, scrapbooking, and being part of her school’s yearbook staff.

Crafty projects were not Breed’s only extracurricular activity though; she is also the founder of Books are Food for Thought, a program that provides books to underprivileged children in Central New York, in particular those children who receive free or reduced meals at community centers and schools. As an advocate for increased childhood literacy, Breed created the organization in 2008 and since then, more than 20,000 books have been delivered to area children.

“Spreading literacy has always been very important to me, and Books Are Food for Thought has given me the opportunity to get books directly into the hands of kids and see the positive effects,” says Breed.

With all that Breed has accomplished in her young life, it’s no wonder Romita Ray, associate professor of art history, considers her a gem among Syracuse University students.

“Stephanie is a truly exceptional student who serves as an inspiration to us all,” says Ray. “Not only is she a top-notch student, she’s also a genuinely good person who strives to make the world around her a better place.”

Being a senior, Breed is gearing up for the future – which according to Ray – is bright. With graduation right around the corner, Breed is readying applications for graduate school while also keeping an eye out for museum jobs.

Breed says she will miss cheering in the student section at Syracuse basketball games, but says she will be able to look back at her Syracuse times with the well-earned (butterfly) wings of an alumna.