Meet the Team

Susan founded Your Teen because she wanted to read a magazine about raising teenagers. Her five kids get final approval for any personal exposure. To her teenage self: if you share your insecurities with others, you’ll find you’re never the only one.

Stephanie loves being the co-owner of YT Media because it changed everything (for the better) about her parenting 3 great kids (2 still teens). Laughter goes a LONG way in their household - pretty much anything is fair game. To her teenage self: You will (mostly) outgrow your anxiety - relax.

Dee is a married mom of three boys—two are teenagers, one is feline. She is a passionate educational advocate and organizational leader who is committed to educational equity and advancement for all students. To her teenage self: Pursue big, bold, audacious endeavors!

Mindy is the mother of three boys, has an MSW and a husband of almost 30 years! To her teenage self: Keep being you, good things are coming. Trust me.

Kamyra Harding is a reading addict, mistake maker, wife, mother and daughter, trying hard to get it all right. To her teenage self: Ignore their expectations, be your authentic self.

I've had many jobs and careers in this lifetime — attorney, retreat director, office manager, energy healer, volunteer coordinator, writer, caregiver, the list goes on. At every turn, my professional and personal focus has always been on inspiring people to expand their idea of what's possible by providing reflective insight, practical advice, and personalized support.

Sharon is a writer whose work has appeared in many local and national publications, including Your Teen, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. To her teenage self: If she could, she’d tell her teenage self to relax about the future—there are many kinds of happy endings.

Meredith is an award-winning designer who has been with Your Teen since their launch in 2007. To her teenage self: she wishes she could tell her teenage self to wear sunscreen, not to quit piano lessons, and to buy some Apple stock.

Jessica is an aspiring writer, SEO expert, and somewhat-recent teen, who loves to read, write, and play video games. To her teenage self: “You don’t need to try to fix the world, you just need to be the best person you can be.”

Jennifer is a jack of all parenting skills and master of none. When not making her teenage daughters cringe uncomfortably at her dancing and singing in public, she can be found curled up on the couch watching BBC crime dramas with her husband and cats. To her teenage self: “Nobody will remember that terrible haircut you got, what you wore to prom, or who you hung out with. Just do you.”

Shari's a mother of three who believes it is never too late to reinvent herself and experience new things. She says that no matter how old she is, she always feels 16; a good thing to be young at heart! To her teenage self: Search for the things you feel passionate about, and that make you happy.

Eca likes to read, travel, and laugh; she is a wife, and a mother to 2 wonderful daughters. To her teenage self: “Stop worrying so much about everything, it’ll be okay!”

Emily Vitan is a lapsed lawyer, delighting in every minute of her second career on the Your Teen team. She's the mother of three teenagers who can most often be found walking the dog, working jigsaw puzzles or volunteering for her latest cause. To her teenage self: Don't worry so much about what social circle you're in. If you do the activities you love, you will find your tribe.

Kristina is a writer whose work has appeared in a variety of print and digital publications, including the The Washington Post, USA Today, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two sons and a menagerie of pets. To her teenage self: “Hold on. The best time of your life is coming.”