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 A.A. from the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, 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.