Staff Biographies

Kevin J. Coyne is a professional educator. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Science in Education. He founded Country Universe in 2004. He can be reached at kevin@countryuniverse.net.

Ben Foster is a freelance writer in Russellville, Kentucky. He began his blogging career with his own site The 1-to-10 Country Music Review. Since then, his work has also appeared on Country Chart Talk, Roughstock, and Dixie Streams Online Radio. He began writing for Country Universe in July of 2011. He can be reached at benfoster@countryuniverse.net, and can be found tweeting at twitter.com/ben1foster.

Sam Gazdziak has been working as a journalist for the trade magazine industry for more than 15 years. As a country music freelance writer, he has written for The 9513, Engine 145 and Country Universe, interviewing the likes of Dolly Parton, Jimmy Dean, Radney Foster and Dierks Bentley.

Jonathan Keefe has been publishing music and pop culture writing since 2005. His writing has appeared at Slant Magazine, The House Next Door, Nerve, and The 1-to-10 Country Music Review. Jonathan began contributing to Country Universe in July of 2011. He has been accused on multiple occasions of being the person Taylor Swift wrote “Mean” about, but he doesn’t think that’s accurate.

Dan Milliken is a nonprofit arts administrator in Washington, D.C. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Belmont University, and began writing for Country Universe in August 2008. He can be reached at dan@countryuniverse.net.

Tara Seetharam is a Public & Government Affairs professional in the energy industry and a freelance writer and TV commentator. She is based in Houston, Texas, but is currently on assignment in Doha, Qatar. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and began writing for Country Universe in April of 2009. She can be reached at tara@countryuniverse.net.

Leeann Ward is a Teacher of Children With Visual Impairments (TVI) for Catholic Charities Maine. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and a Master of Arts in Teaching Children With Visual Impairments from Western Michigan University. She started writing for Country Universe in January of 2008. She can be reached at leeann@countryuniverse.net.