Lara Schwartz teaches at American University School of Public Affairs, where she founded and directs the Project on Civil Discourse. She specializes in civil discourse and campus speech, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. Drawing on her experience as a legislative lawyer, lobbyist, and communications strategist in leading civil rights organizations, Lara emphasizes collaborative learning and universal design in her teaching. She has served as a Faculty Fellow at AU’s Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning.

Andrea Malkin Brenner, PhD is a sociologist and college transitions educator who works with high school students and their parents on challenges related to college transitions. She also works with high school and college faculty and administration to design first-year experience programs. Andrea is the creator of the nationally-recognized American University Experience (AUx) Program, now a mandatory full-year course for first-year students at American University. Previous to that, Dr. Brenner served as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at American University for 20 years, teaching classes on inequality, social problems, and the life course. She also directed AU's University College program, the university's oldest and largest living-learning community for first-year students.

They are co-authors of How to College: What to Know Before You Go (And When You’re There).