Sally Steenland is a nonresident senior fellow at American Progress. From 2005 to 2015, she directed American Progress’ Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, where she led national and state-based work on religious freedom, reproductive justice, economic inequality, anti-Muslim bigotry, LGBTQI+ equality, and more. While at American Progress, Steenland created the Faith and Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute; wrote a weekly column, “Faith in Values,” and served as a national spokesperson on issues of faith, values, and culture.
Before working at American Progress, Steenland was a frequent op-ed columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote a syndicated column on critical social issues. She worked at the National Commission on Working Women and Wider Opportunities for Women, where she wrote influential reports on women in the media and women’s employment. For several years she taught English, filmmaking, and media studies to high school students.
Steenland has written two best-selling books, The Magnetic Poetry Book of Poetry and the award-winning Kids’ Magnetic Poetry Book and Creativity Kit. Her short stories have appeared in a variety of literary journals and have been anthologized and nominated for national awards.
Steenland was raised in a Dutch Calvinist community in northern New Jersey. She received a B.A. from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a master’s in education from Howard University in Washington, D.C.