Brian Hierstein (counselor) was an art education major at NIU, where he received his bachelor's degree in 2004. For the past three years he has been teaching art to students with severe and profound special needs at Wilson Aspire Program, Auburn High School, and to other students throughout the Rockford district, where he has designed lessons to promote an understanding of art and, at the same time, to increase fine motor skills. He has exhibited his art at various shows in the Midwestern states. He has worked with the Visual Arts Camp for several years.