Meet The Authors & Experts

Meet The Authors & Experts

STEPS experts are a community of public service specialists who are dedicated to helping students and future professionals find the information they need to pursue and advance careers in the public sector. From educators and nurses to police officers and firefighters, our team of experts work to deliver and review quality content to connect students with valuable advice and resources on degrees and careers in public service.

Authors & Experts
Authors Experts Editors

Authors

Amy Williams

Amy Williams
A smiling young woman with long, straight brown hair wearing a floral dress, sitting in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books, with string lights and a vase of flowers in the background.

Angela Myers
A smiling young woman with long, straight brown hair wearing a floral dress, sitting in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books, with string lights and a vase of flowers in the background.

AngelaMyers
A woman with curly blonde hair and glasses smiling slightly at the camera, wearing a black and white patterned top. She is in a well-lit indoor setting.

Beth Orenstein
A black and white headshot of a man with glasses, sporting a beard and wearing a collared shirt, smiling slightly at the camera.

Blake Huggins
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and fair skin, wearing a red top, stands in front of a bookshelf filled with various books. She looks directly at the camera with a subtle expression.

Brenda Baron
Brian-Lovins

Dr. Brian Lovins
A joyful woman with dark hair smiling under a red and transparent umbrella, with a blurred green background suggesting a vibrant outdoor setting.

Ellery Weil
A woman with curly hair and glasses smiles at the camera, standing against a red wall. She has a floral tattoo on her arm.

Emily Kelley
A close-up portrait of a woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and subtly smiling at the camera.

Holly Riddle
A man in glasses and a baseball cap looks to the side while a Siamese cat sits comfortably on his shoulder, both inside a softly lit room.

James Mielke
janet-ferone

Janet Ferone
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Jason Collins
A close-up portrait of a smiling woman with long, straight blonde hair and fair skin, set against a blurred brown background.

Kari Scare
A portrait of a smiling woman with long dark hair outdoors, with soft-focus green foliage in the background, wearing a black jacket and striped top.

Kathleen Curtis
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Kenya McCullum
A young woman with long, wavy hair and a vibrant red shirt smiles warmly against a snowy background.

Kyra Sutherland
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Malia Wofford
A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a denim shirt stands in front of a beige siding background.

Megan Harrington
A smiling bald man with glasses on his head, wearing a black t-shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

Michael Hoffman
A joyful woman with curly hair wearing a black hat and olive green shirt smiles under a canopy of golden autumn leaves.

Mikala Lugen
Rebecca-Newman

Rebecca Newman, MSW
A close-up portrait of a smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a beige sweater. She is in a warmly lit room with blurred chairs and hanging lights in the background.

Shannon Daigle
A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing glasses and a purple jacket over a plaid shirt. She is in a room with a white wall.

Shannon Lee
Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length hair wearing earrings and a dark sweater, set against a blurred background of leafy bushes.

Taylor Cromwell

Timon Kaple

Experts

A close-up portrait of a young woman with curly hair wearing glasses and smiling at the camera, symbolic of homeless students overcoming challenges in higher education.

Ajanique Dunlap

A smiling woman with two-toned curly hair, featuring dark roots and blonde tips, against a neutral background. She wears a black top and has a friendly expression.

Alisha Powell

AlyssaKennedy-bio

Alyssa Kennedy

Andrew-Selepak

Andrew Selepak

Angela-Medellin

Angela Medellin

Anna-Jurich

Anna Jurich

April Preyar

April Preyar

Professional headshot of a smiling first-generation college student with long black hair, wearing a black blazer and white blouse, set against a light gray background.

Arelis Benítez

Ben-Barrett

Ben Barrett

Briana-Hollis

Briana Hollis

A professional headshot of a smiling man with glasses, wearing a blue suit and striped tie, representing the polished image of online college education.

Bryan Hall

Carina-Ramirez

Carina Ramirez

chris

Chris Drew

A smiling man in sunglasses and a yellow hard hat, identified as an expert, stands in a forest with a small fire burning in the background.

Cooper Breeden

Crystal-Yarbrough

Crystal Yarbrough

A smiling man wearing a blue polo shirt, sitting outdoors with a blurred background that suggests a casual environment. He appears content and relaxed, possibly reviewing ESL resources.

David Ceron

Angela-Velez-Solic

Dr. Angela Velez-Solic

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and a warm smile, wearing a black and white polka dot blouse, seated indoors earning college credit.

Dr. Deniece Dortch

Dr-Froswa-Booker-Drew

Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew

dr-kaple

Dr. Kaple

A professional headshot of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair, taking an online test, wearing a blue top and subtle makeup, smiling slightly at the camera.

Elizabeth Minei

Fred Amrein

Gale Gibson Gayle, Ed.D.

Hailey-Reynolds

Hailey Reynolds

A smiling woman with dark hair and a black top, featuring a subtle necklace, set against a blurred natural background, perfectly embodies the essence of maximizing mental health.

Hilary Russo

A woman with short hair, smiling at the camera, wearing a denim jacket. The background features a soft blue tufted sofa in an education setting.

Holly Severson

A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a blue blouse and a gold necklace, posing for a portrait.

Janet Philbin

Jason-C-McClaren

Jason C McClaren

Profile photo of a smiling online student with glasses, wearing a white shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

Jonathan Roberts

JudiAlperinKing

Judi Alperin King

Karen-Blumberg

Karen Blumberg

DrKris-Boksman

Kris Boksman

Kristen-Hall

Kristen Hall

A cheerful woman with brown hair and glasses, wearing a white sleeveless top and a necklace, smiling at the camera in an indoor, casually professional college setting.

Lindsey Richard

A close-up of a smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a black shirt. The photo is circular and captures her joyful expression during her gap year travels.

Marion Taylor MSW

A smiling expert with long dark hair and glasses, wearing a white t-shirt, stands indoors with a cityscape visible through the window behind her.

Mary Stephens

A professional portrait of a man wearing a gray suit, light blue shirt, and striped tie, smiling gently against a blurred green background, featured in an online guide.

Matt Hylland

McKenna-Reitz

McKenna Reitz

meghan

Meghan Sacks

Meredith Essalat

Meredith Essalat

Michael J. Provitera

Patrick-Dwyer

Patrick Dwyer

Rebecca-Newman

Rebecca Newman

Rebecca Newman, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience in social work and clinical practice. She currently serves as the lead clinician in an academic medical practice. Her expertise spans case management, psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and practice operations. Since 2019, Rebecca has integrated writing into her professional activities, authoring more than 45 articles on topics including mental health, social work, healthcare education, and higher education. Additionally, she has contributed expert advice to over 30 articles in publications such as Prevention, Bustle, Cosmopolitan, and Shape. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Oberlin College in 2010 and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012, practicing social work continuously since that time.
A portrait of a smiling military veteran with short dark hair, wearing a black suit and tie. The background is soft-focused in warm tones. The image is cropped to a close-up of his head and shoulders.

Ron Kness

Professional headshot of a smiling college student with disabilities, featuring shoulder-length brown hair, dressed in professional attire and a light pink blouse, set against a blurred green background.

Ruth Wilson

Samantha-Abbinanti

Samantha Abbinanti

Sean Walsh

Sean Walsh

A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, specializing in grant writing for public service, wearing a blue blouse, against a light green background.

Tara Houston

Black and white portrait of a man with glasses, styled hair, and a beard, wearing a collared shirt and looking intently at the camera, possibly pondering his next grant application.

Thomas Grant Richardson

A young woman with long brown hair and a green top, pursuing a career in social justice, smiles gently at the camera, standing on a sandy beach with trees and a clear sky in the background.

Tori Ford

Tori Ford is the founder and CEO of Medical Herstory, an international, youth-led nonprofit eliminating sexism, shame, and stigma from health experiences through medical education, patient advocacy, and undoing stigma. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Health, Medicine, and Society from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies from McGill University. She is an outspoken sexual health advocate who is passionate about empowering and educating others. Her work has been recognized by the University of Cambridge Vice Chancellor’s Social Impact Award and the McGill Scarlet Key award for her enduring gender health advocacy.
Tyler Sainato

Tyler Sainato

Tyler Sainato is a school librarian in Nashville, TN. This is her first year in the library after six years of teaching English. She has a Master's in Education from Lipscomb University and is finishing up her Master's in Library Science from Middle Tennessee State University. She currently works at a high school in Antioch, TN where she is also the Project LIT chapter leader and co-advisor for the GSA Club
A smiling woman with short blonde hair, wearing a dark blazer and a pearl necklace, against a dark blue curtain background, possibly pondering her college majors.

Victoria Turner

Victoria Turner is the founder and president of Turner Educational Advising, LLC, an educational consulting firm specializing in college and law school admissions and professional development. She served as the Senior Manager of Pre-Law and Professional Development Programs at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, for almost a decade. She is also a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

Editors

Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Adrienne Auclair
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

DFG Staff
Ginny Gillikin

Ginny Gillikin
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Grace Butler
A person with curly hair and glasses wearing a green corduroy jacket over a black shirt stands with arms crossed against a textured reddish-brown stone wall.

Jordan Cosselman
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Karen A. Brudnak

Kimberly Zaski
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Linda Armstrong
Abstract geometric design with two blue horizontal rectangles, one red horizontal rectangle, and two small red circles on a white background.

Mark Earnest
A person with short hair and glasses smiles at the camera. They are wearing a light beige cardigan over a black top. The background is a solid blue color with a few small black dots.

Sarah Mattie

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