The Story Behind Baby Steps
Two Different Journeys. One Incredible Mission.
After two students at Auburn University experienced an unplanned pregnancy decades apart, they found themselves asking what it could look like to provide support to future Student-Moms. Founders Matt & Michelle Schultz alongside Co-Founder Kaitlyn Willing longed to create a world where college students facing an unplanned pregnancy could be equipped and empowered to have both their education and their baby.
Our Story
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30+ years ago
Michelle faces an unplanned pregnancy at Auburn and terminates her pregnancy
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2011
Kaitlyn experiences an unplanned pregnancy at Auburn and has her baby with no support
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Spring 2013
Michelle & Kaitlyn meet for the first time and Kaitlyn’s story affirms the need for Baby Steps
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Fall 2017
Baby Steps opens its doors at Auburn University
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2021
Expansion begins
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2025
Baby Steps opens its doors at The University of Alabama
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Today
Baby Steps is strategically expanding with the hopes of serving Student-Moms nationwide
The Baby Steps Story
Matt & Michelle Schultz // Founders
Over 30 years ago Founders Matt and Michelle Schultz found themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy at Auburn University. With fear and anxiety, Michelle (current Auburn Hub Executive Director) felt that finishing her degree and having her baby was impossible. So, she made the decision to terminate her pregnancy and continue with her plans for the future.
As years went by, they realized how a seemingly small decision impacted their lives. Their eyes were opened to an overlooked, isolated population in desperate need of support. They felt an unceasing call to do something more. This is when the idea of Baby Steps was born.
The Story Continues
Kaitlyn Willing // Co-Founder
A needed affirmation came in the spring of 2013. In a moment of uncertainty that Baby Steps was truly needed, Co-Founder Kaitlyn Willing (current Baby Steps COO) shared that just two and a half years earlier, as a junior at Auburn University, she experienced her own unplanned pregnancy. While Kaitlyn decided to parent her child and finish her degree, the lack of support made graduating almost impossible. Kaitlyn affirmed the concept of Baby Steps as an organization and helped build Baby Steps by providing unique insight to what life was like as a Student-Mom on a college campus.
Although very different…
Their two journeys fuel our desire to create a space where Student-Moms are not defined by their circumstances but are empowered to thrive!
In 2017, Baby Steps officially opened its doors at Auburn University and began expansion efforts in 2021. Since the beginning, our team has been striving each day to empower Student-Moms to persevere as both students and mothers.
