"Alysia Steele did not build her career overnight. It was shaped over decades of showing up, meeting deadlines, and doing the work when no one was watching. Her path moved through newsrooms, classrooms, archives, and communities. At each step, she focused on craft, responsibility, and people. Today, Steele is recognized as a leader in photojournalism and oral history. Her work preserves stories that might otherwise be lost. It also reflects how long-term careers are built in media and academia."
"Steele grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Raised primarily by her paternal grandparents, they taught her structure and accountability. "School and grades came first," she says. "Hard work was a must. Respecting elders was non-negotiable." She attended the now defunct Harrisburg Arts Magnet School and focused on photography and visual storytelling. Mornings were spent in college-prep classes at her high school, John Harris High School, and afternoons were dedicated to learning composition, light, and developing film."
"Steele left college early after a difficult experience at a rural Pennsylvania campus. The environment was isolating, and the experience left a lasting mark. "I was smart, but scared," she says. "There was a lot of racial trauma. I wasn't ready then. I wore a baseball cap that covered my face. Many times I was the only student of color in any given class I enrolled in." She had earned an associate degree in photography, where she learned studio, food, event, and portrait photography."
Alysia Steele developed her career over decades by consistently showing up, meeting deadlines, and doing work unseen by others. Her trajectory included newsrooms, classrooms, archives, and community settings where she emphasized craft, responsibility, and people. Steele grew up in Harrisburg under her paternal grandparents' guidance, prioritizing school, structure, and respect. She trained in photography at Harrisburg Arts Magnet School and earned recognition and scholarships. Steele left college early after isolating racial trauma at a rural campus, later completing an associate degree in photography and mastering studio, food, event, and portrait formats. She now leads in photojournalism and oral history, preserving vulnerable stories and demonstrating long-term career building in media and academia.
Read at Business Matters
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