Steven often says that his mother is the wellspring of his poetry. She read and recited poetry to him before his birth and through his growing-up years in locales as varied as Central America and Gurnee, Illinois. 

Steven received his Bachelor’s in English from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and both his M.A. and Ph.D. are from the University of Nebraska. He is the recipient of several teaching and scholarly awards, including the winner of three Teacher-of-the-Year awards and three Mentor-of-the Year awards. 

He is a university professor of English, who often teaches poetry workshops and a class called Bon Appétit: Savoring Poetry & Good Cooking. While writing poetry, he immerses himself in jazz, the blues, and the spirit of Langston Hughes. Published widely in literary journals, he is also a best-selling children’s book author and the author of two scholarly books examining Black rage.