Meet Our Team

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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.


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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: Hudson, Croix, and Ezra, and Tobias! Kaitlyn and Will enjoy hosting college students weekly in their home & sewing back into the Auburn community. 



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Sarah Hirschfeldt
Director of Development

Sarah graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2015 and joined the Baby Steps team in the summer of 2017. She combines her love for college women with her experience working for various nonprofits to bring passion and zeal to the Auburn community. Sarah served as Baby Steps first Live-in Support and has recently transitioned to the role of Director of Development.

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Hannah Whitecotton
Full -time Live-in Support

Hannah graduated from Auburn University in 2018 with a degree in Animal Sciences. She joined the Baby Steps team in the summer of 2019 and now serves as our full-time Live-in Support.  She truly enjoys exercising her passion for empowering college women, all while loving them in the process. When not hanging out with our student-moms or babies, you can probably find Hannah traveling all over the US and the world! 

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Darby Wilson 

Live-in Support

Darby joined the Baby Steps team in June of 2018 as our part-time Live-in Support​. She is a full-time student at Auburn University, studying Communications and Nonprofit Studies. Darby has naturally stepped into such a unique role with Baby Steps. When she is not leading our on-campus organizations, you can find her coordinating Family Dinners and Socials for our student-moms. ​

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.

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Jessica Clements

Originally from Nashville, TN, Jessica attended AU for her undergraduate degree! She now serves full-time as the Small Groups Coordinator at Church of the Highlands. She is passionate about seeing life transformation happen through authentic community, which well aligns with the vision of Baby Steps. She first served with Baby Steps in college in 2016, and now has the joy of telling people about the growing community of Baby Steps. Jessica is married to Austin Clements, a medical student at VCOM, and they are proud dog parents to an 11 pound “Dorkie” named Dash. ​​

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.


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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. 

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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