Stella began her career at the Census Bureau in 1998 as an analyst in the Population Estimates Branch. In 1999, she joined the Racial Statistics Branch where she served as the subject matter expert for American Indians and Alaska Natives, authored two research briefs, and was team lead on American Indian and Alaska Native census data review and tribal consultations in preparation for the 2010 Census. In 2009, she began work  as an analyst in the External Liaison Branch, Decennial Management Division, and supervised and processed thousands of controlled and noncontrolled correspondences from Congress and the public by telephone, internet and mail regarding 2010 Census procedures. She returned to the Population Division in 2010 as a special assistant working on a variety of projects, including lead in the development of additional/new black or African-American race codes for the 2020 Census and mobile applications for better public access to census data. She currently serves as an analyst in the Sex and Age Statistics Branch, Population Division.

Stella has worked on a wide variety of projects aimed at improving data quality of the census and other surveys, and providing important information that the Census Bureau, policymakers, local businesses and planners, and the public can use in making informed decisions.

Stella has authored many reports and papers, and has presented her work at numerous conferences and professional meetings. She has also been a peer reviewer for Demography journal. Stella earned two Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Awards — one for the review and analysis of race data from the 2000 Census, and one for customer service from the 2010 Census. Stella received a doctoral degree in sociology from Howard University, a master’s degree in demography from Georgetown University, and a bachelor’s degree in population dynamics from the University of Wisconsin. She also holds a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University.