Born in Texas, Stanfield graduated from James Madison High School in Dallas, where a science classroom was later named in honor of Stanfield and her twin sister, Eunice Stanfield. Stanfield earned a bachelor"s degree in intercultural studies from in Oxford, Ohio. During college, she participated in study abroad programs that took her to Europe and the Middle East.
Stanfield began working for the United States. State Department in 1968, going on to work in a variety of political and economic posts in the diplomatic corps in the former American embassy in Taipei, Taiwan. The United States. Consulate General in Hong Kong. And the United States. Embassy in Beijing before becoming Chargé d"Affaires ad interim, and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, which was her highest post prior to assuming the ambassadorship.
After her ambassadorship ended, Stanfield became a Diplomat in Residence at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University from 2003-2005.
She went on to a second Diplomat in Residence post, at Spelman College.
