Steffon Montrell Gray , of the Kennedy Heights neighborhood in Avondale, is a 2008 graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School; a 2012 graduate of Loyola University New Orleans , where he received his bachelor's in mathematics; and most recently, a 2013 graduate of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, where he received his master's degree in public administration. 

Gray is a member of the inaugural class of the Excelsior Service Fellowship Program, an initiative started by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in April to bring talented graduates of colleges, universities, graduate and law schools into government service. He is one of 80 fellows, representing 11 colleges, universities and law schools. Gray has been assigned to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, where he is working on program evaluation and statistical tools in the Division of Grants and Scholarship Programs. 

Gray is the son of Ronald and Shirley Gray of Avondale and grandson of Annie L. Chess of Westwego.