Donna Jessie Fortune is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Elementary Education at Virginia Tech. Donna has spent most of her life in Virginia and has previously taught in the elementary grades. She currently works with preservice teachers and teaches literacy and social studies. She's interested in teacher education, literacy education, listening literacy, global education, social justice, and social studies literacy. She is an advocate for sharing the historical stories of courageous women in America.

Mary Alice Barksdale is an Associate Professor Emeritus and retired from Virginia Tech. Mary Alice is from Virginia and grew up listening to the story of Mary Draper Ingles and seeing productions of the Long Way Home. Mary Alice had two Fulbright Scholar awards, in Russia and South Africa. She also worked extensively in Malawi. Mary Alice's interests include children's literature, literacy education, teacher education, global education, and social justice.