The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that Stacey Bowers, who currently serves as the Director of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, will depart the agency effective October 17, 2025. Ms. Bowers has held the Director position since January 16, 2024.
Chairman Paul S. Atkins expressed his gratitude for Ms. Bowers' leadership and dedication during her tenure. “I want to thank Stacey for the excellent work and leadership she has provided the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation,” said Chairman Atkins. He further noted that "Her efforts as Director have had big impacts on small companies and furthered the mission of the SEC. I wish her the best in her next endeavor."
During her time as the small business advocate, Ms. Bowers played a crucial role in engaging with startups and smaller public companies to identify both opportunities and challenges related to capital raising. Her responsibilities also included reporting on critical capital raising data, analyzing the potential impacts of proposed regulations on behalf of small businesses and their investors, and actively advocating for this community by recommending policy changes to both Congress and the Commission.
Reflecting on her service, Ms. Bowers shared, “I am honored to have served in this role and to have worked alongside the dedicated experts on the small business advocacy team, my SEC colleagues, and the Commissioners. It has been an incredible opportunity and privilege to advocate for small business and to support this inspirational community of entrepreneurs, investors, and all of those who support them on their journey.”
Prior to her appointment as the small business advocate, Ms. Bowers held a position as a Professor of the Practice at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Her professional background also encompasses extensive experience as a practitioner, both in private practice and in-house, representing a wide array of businesses ranging from startups to public companies. Notably, her legal career began at the SEC as a staff attorney in the agency’s Division of Corporation Finance.
Ms. Bowers earned her bachelor's degree in business/accounting (cum laude) from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her law degree, she holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction studies, both from the University of Denver.