Vanessa O'Neil-White has a B.S. and an M.S. Ed. in English Education from Buffalo State University. As an undergraduate student, she co-founded the English Education Student Association (EESA) and as a graduate student, she helped establish the English Education Alumni Network. Vanessa has taught both middle and high school students in multiple schools in WNY, focusing on literacy, storytelling, and equity. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Literacy and English Education from The University at Buffalo.