[1][2] Stassun has been an activist promoting the integration of underrepresented groups in the fields of STEM, especially math and science through research, outreach and teaching.

He lived in Venice, CA until age seven, when his mother and stepfather married and moved to the San Fernando Valley where he grew up.

During his high school years he participated in a number of activities in the fine arts, sports, speech and debate, and newspapers and yearbook, all while graduating second in his class.

[citation needed] He first attended the Naval Academy for a year, undergoing basic training on Treasure Island, but gave it up.

[5] Currently, Stassun serves as chair in the exoplanet science team of the Vanderbilt Initiative in Data-intensive Astrophysics (VIDA), which he helped found.