Vaughan Stephenson attended Ricks College before serving a mission to Paris, France. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in Communication Education. He went on to earn a master's degree in Communication from BYU. He completed his graduate studies with a doctorate degree in Adult Education from the University of Idaho.
Dr. Stephenson taught speech, drama, and choir at his hometown high school until 1989 when he joined the faculty at Ricks College, staying with the college as it made its transition to BYU-Idaho.