A Kentucky native, I earned my B.A. in journalism from Franklin College (go Grizzlies!), and my M.A. in English literature (more useful than you would think) from the University of North Florida. But I learned most of what I know the hard way, as a writer and editor at four daily newspapers in three states. Stereotypically restless, I have dabbled in PR, small-business ownership, historic preservation, secret poetry writing, 100-year-old crime investigation and keeping a small child out of traffic. I also spent more than five years teaching future journalists at Ball State University, where I created pop-up newsrooms at big events (the London, Sochi and Rio Olympics, the Indiana State Fair) and wrote a book for Routledge based on my favorite classes. It's funny, a little weird and intended to be useful. Possibly I've been described the same way.In addition to working as a freelance writer, editor and social media manager through Colleen Steffen Consulting LLC, I currently have my favorite job ever with my alma mater, where I'm executive editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College J majors. I mentor and advise young reporters from a full-time office lovingly called "the Shack" in the Press Corps at the Indiana Statehouse, and we make stories, photos, videos and graphics that get published by professional media outlets around the state. And sometimes, mysteriously, in Turkey. We're one of just 20 student statehouse programs in the U.S. and the smallest school to boot. The Statehouse File is an 18-year-old flagship immersive-learning program that has sent former students everywhere from CNN to IBJ. In 2021, we had Indiana's SPJ Student Journalist of the Year, and in 2023, we took two national SPJ writing awards, rubbing shoulders with the likes of ASU and Harvard. Pretty heady company for lil FC, but then we win a raft of both student and pro awards every year. Teaching wholesome, shy Midwestern kids how to take up space has been Franklin's specialty since 1834. If you ever find yourself at the Statehouse, look for us next to the first-floor snack stand. We work hard, learn a lot, occasionally get yelled at by public officials and drink a ton of coffee.