Who We Are

Meet Our Team

Staff

Michelle Schultz
Executive Director

Michelle resides in Auburn with her husband, Matt, and four of their six children. Matt and Michelle met while she was pursuing her degree in Apparel Merchandising at Auburn University. The couple married in 1989 and decided to make Auburn their permanent home. Matt and Michelle have embraced the gift of hospitality by opening their home weekly to invite members of the community to share in the joy of friendship and love.

Kaitlyn Willing
Director of Operations

Kaitlyn graduated from Auburn University as a student-mom in 2013 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and has lived in Auburn for over ten years. She met her husband (Will Willing) while serving at a local pregnancy resource clinic. The couple has four precious boys and a baby girl: Hudson, Croix, Ezra, Tobias, and Haven Grace! Kaitlyn and Will enjoy hosting college students weekly in their home & sewing back into the Auburn community.

Sarah Schmidt
Expansion Coordinator

Several years after graduating from Auburn University, Sarah returned to The Plains to join Baby Steps as our first Live-in Support. She blazed many trails within the organization and is now blazing another. Her passion for the mission of Baby Steps and experience working with nonprofits around the country leave her eager and equipped to empower others to bring Baby Steps to their own campuses. Sarah currently resides in Fairhope, AL with her husband (Todd) and baby on the way. When not wearing her Baby Steps hat, she is pursuing her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and walking alongside women to help them pursue their dreams and goals.

Erin Wittwer
Full-time Live-in Support

Erin graduated from Auburn University in May of 2021 with a degree in Accounting and she now serves as Live-In Support for Baby Steps. Her greatest passion is to serve others in whatever capacity she can, which allows her to empower the women she gets to work with. Erin loves to be outside, so taking walks with babies and their student-moms has quickly become a favorite pastime of hers!

Sara Hilbun
Student Resident Assistant

Sara is a current student at Auburn University pursuing a degree in Social Work, projected to graduate in May 2022. Sara has been involved with Baby Steps through the on-campus organization for 3 years, serving in various roles such as New Member Coordinator, Student Advisory Board member, and Treasurer, She is now taking on the position of President of the on-campus organization and joining the staff as the Student Resident Assistant. Sara is passionate about equipping the Student Mothers to succeed and build a future for themselves and their children.

Lydia Swanson
Marketing and Branding Coordinator

Lydia joined our team in July of 2021 as our Branding and Content Media Coordinator. She is currently a sophomore at Auburn University, where she is studying Public Relations. Lydia has always had a passion for creating media content and is excited to have the opportunity to use her skills to make an impact on Auburns campus. She looks forward to working with our staff and growing in community with everyone involved here at Baby Steps.

Board of Directors

Kerri Hensarling

Kerri grew up in Auburn and went on to attend medical school at the University of South Alabama. She came back to work for the Auburn University Medical Clinic for a short period of time and then joined the Lee OB/GYN, along with raising her five boys and a dog here in Auburn!
Dr. Hensarling's husband, Robert, works for Auburn University. She enjoys football, fishing, working out at Pure Barre and attending all of her kids' activities. While not taking care of her family, she serves as the trusted OB/GYN to most of our student-moms.

Terri Knight

Terri lives in Opelika with her husband, Shey, who she met while in school at Auburn. The two married after college and after a brief stint in Birmingham they decided to return to the area to raise a family. They have two children who are also Auburn University graduates. Terri has found her passion working with college kids not only as a lecturer at Auburn University but also through mentoring students and doing life with them in whatever capacity that may be.

Evan Taylor

Evan is a designer and realtor living in Auburn with her husband and three sons. As a graduate of Auburn University’s Rehabilitation Services program, she has always had a passion for helping others.
Evan was introduced to the Baby Steps founder Michelle Schultz. After learning more about their mission and work within the community, she immediately felt led to become involved. Evan brings many years of non-profit experience, specifically in fundraising, to the Baby Steps family. She looks forward to being a productive member of the organization and bringing awareness of the services, support and love Baby Steps so generously offers to the community.

Dr. Rob Pate

My name is Rob Pate and I am married to my junior high school sweetheart, Dana Pate. We have five kids and I am an optometrist at Basden Eye Care. I am active in the Auburn community as a coach in multiple youth sports, the color-commentator for Auburn High School football, and a writer for 247sports.com. Baby Steps surfaced on my radar when Kaitlyn Willing described the immense impact that this non-profit has had on the many that have participated.

In Memory of Bernie Brannan

It is with deep sorrow that one of our founding board members, Bernie Brannan, passed away in June of 2019. He graduated from Auburn University and later went on to receive a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama's Jones Law Institute. He practiced law, always seeking what is in the best interest of children in domestic litigation.

Bernie's passion for Baby Steps goes back to events he witnessed as a student at Auburn. Two of his close friends who were in a relationship became pregnant during their sophomore year. The parents of the couple were unwilling to continue financially supporting their education, resulting in their dropping out of school in order to work. Bernie saw firsthand how tempting it was for them to end their pregnancy. He realized that although they chose to have their child, not everyone does. This is why he invested in Baby Steps, an organization that empowers women to have both their education and their baby.

As Baby Steps continues to grow, we are on the lookout for new Live-in Supports each year! If you're interested in applying for this position, click the link below. To learn more about what this position entails, contact thrive@baby-steps.org.

Apply Here

CONTACT US

We'd love to hear from you.

Email

thrive@baby-steps.org

Phone

334-521-2184

Mailing Address

PO Box 713
Auburn, AL 36831

If you or someone you know is a student and finds themselves in an unplanned pregnancy or is a student- mom, please call 334.521.2184. We are here for you!