John Stegman completed his master's degree (1957) and doctorate in communication (1980) at The Ohio State University. A professor in OSU's Fisher College of Business for many years, he was named as Best Elective Instructor in the full-time MBA program in 1990. He serves as National Vice President of the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. He is Ohio President and National Director of the Navy League of the United States.

While earning his Butler degree in history-political science, Stegman was active in the forensic team, band, student government and Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He has previously served Butler as president of the Butler Alumni Association Board (1999), a member of the Board of Visitors for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (2001-2009), and chairman of the Ovid Butler Society (OBS) Executive Committee (2002-2010). When Stegman stepped down from active involvement in the OBS, Butler honored his efforts by naming the OBS meeting room in Atherton Union in his honor. In 2004, he received the Alumni Association's Butler Medal, recognizing a lifetime of distinguished service to the University.