Speaking Engagements, Interviews, and Publications

Speaking Engagements

March 21, 2025 – World Down syndrome Day guest author and program co-host at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
February 7, 2025 – The Ripple Effect of Decisions, guest speaker at Unfiltered GR (Grand Rapids, MI)
October 12, 2024 – Guest author and presentation at the Kent District Library / Kent ISD Disability Awareness Event
March 14, 2022 – Author’s Night – Family Program at the Holland Museum.
March 6, 2022 – Author interview posted to YouTube with Make Momentos. View the 15-minute interview about how I Am Me/Yo soy you came to be and the power of books to kids’ learning and development.
March 4, 2022 – Guest blog post for Make Momentos.
October 7, 2021 – Author presentation – Virtual. Loving Down syndrome: A Down syndrome Month Presentation. Holland Museum. Holland, MI.
October 15, 2020 – Book promotion by author Crystal Bowman on Christian Children’s Authors.com (Blog post).
August 19, 2020 – I Am Me author reading and activity program for GiGi’s Playhouse Annapolis, MD (Join author Katelyn Herrygers as she reads her children’s book, I Am Me, and helps us all remember we are exactly who we are supposed to be! Short activity and songs to follow. Possible guests include her son, Jameson, who was the inspiration behind the book!)
June 5, 2020 – I Am Me: A Book By A Mom For Her Son, For Everyone. Simply Unique Magazine UK (Issue 8, Read the article online: I Am Me).
Herrygers, K.S. (2020). Author presentation – Virtual. Ottawa Area ISD (OAISD) Special Education Directors virtual meeting. Holland, MI.
March 21, 2020 – A Mother’s Loving Words For Her Son: Katelyn Herrygers is a Michigan mom and author of I Am Me, a children’s book inspired by her son, Jameson who has Down syndrome. Beyond the Waiting Room
December 16, 2019 – I Am Me-The Story Behind One Mom’s Journey: Each of us has a story, an important one that defines who we are and why we do what we do. Some of our stories evolve as we are given twists and turns in life and some of those experiences make us want to do big things. CedarsStory.com

In the News

March 2022 – “Watch children’s book author and Down syndrome advocate Katelyn S. Herrygers discuss her personal experience with a Down syndrome diagnosis and learn the story behind her inspirational children’s book. Plus, get to know a little more about Katelyn in this delightful interview.”
June 2020: Interview with Cheri Cowell of EA Books Publishing
February 21, 2020: Maranda Where You Live segment on WOODTV8 and WOTV4Women (Article and interview video)
January 6, 2020: WGVU The Morning Show with Shelley Irwin 88.5FM – Grand Rapids, MI (Recorded radio interview 9:03)
December 11, 2019: Woman Crush Wednesday on The Gray and Green Show 105.3FM Radio – Grand Rapids, MI
December 6, 2019: Local mom of child with Down syndrome writes own book FOX17 TV – Grand Rapids, MI (Article and interview video)

Workshop Presentations and Facilitation

Herrygers, K.S. & Peterson, E. (2019). Workshop Facilitators. MAC Conference in Lansing, MI.
Herrygers, K.S. & Peterson, E. (2019). Learning to Give Booth. Michigan After-School Partnership Annual Conference in Lansing, MI.
Herrygers, K. S. & Peterson, E. (2018). Workshop Facilitators. Grundy County Community Foundation Philanthropy Day in Morris, IL.
Herrygers, K.S. (2018) Learning to Give Booth. Michigan After-School Partnership Annual Conference in Lansing, MI.
Herrygers, K. S. (2018) Workshop Facilitator. Wayne County Writing Workshop in Clarenceville, MI.
Herrygers, K. S. & Peterson, E. (2017). Workshop Facilitators. Henry Ford Health Systems Conference at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, MI.
Herrygers, K. S. (2017). Learning to Give Booth. Booth lead at ASCD Empower 2017 in Anaheim, CA.
Herrygers, K.S. (2017). Learning to Give Booth. Booth lead at NYLC 2017 in Anaheim, CA.

Publications

Herrygers, K.S. (2021). Yo soy yo. Spanish edition of I Am Me. ISBN: 978-1-952369-54-4

Herrygers, K.S. (2020). I Am Me: A Book By A Mom For Her Son, For Everyone. Simply Unique Magazine (8). https://www.simplyuniquemag.co.uk/i-am-me/

McEvilly, M. Edited by Herrygers, K. S. and Peterson, B. (2020). Generosity through empathy. Learning to Give at https://www.learningtogive.org/news/generosity-through-empathy

McEvilly, M. Edited by Herrygers, K. S. (2019). Make this new year matter, together. Learning to Give at https://www.learningtogive.org/news/make-new-year-matter-together

Herrygers, K.S. (2019). I am me. Self published: Support by EABooks Publishing. Illustrated by Ashley Bryant. ISBN: 978-1945976667

Herrygers, K.S. (2019). There’s nothing “wrong” with having Down syndrome. The Mighty.

Herrygers, K.S. (2019). Leaping over fear and uncertainty as I raise my son with Down syndrome. The Mighty.

Herrygers, K.S. (2019). The positive effect of generosity in after-school programs. Learning to Give. https://www.learningtogive.org/news/positive-effect-generosity-after-school-programs

Herrygers, K. S., & Wieland, S. M. B. (2017). Work Socialization through Part-Time Work: Cultivating Self-Efficacy and Engagement through Care. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 45(5).

Sandor, K. S., Swords, N., & Edwards, C. (2015). Communication and community engagement. Debuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Sandor, K. S., & Swords, N. (2015). Organization Matters. In K. S. Sandor, N. Swords, & C. Edwards (Eds.), Communication and community engagement. Debuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Sandor, K. S. (2015). Consistency is key: APA style. In K. S. Sandor, N. Swords, & C. Edwards (Eds.), Communication and community engagement. Debuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Sandor, K. (2015, June). Marushka: the legacy lives on. Grand Rapids Magazine, 52(6), 30.

Sandor, K. (2015, April). A pleasant place to live. Grand Rapids Magainze, 52(4), 79-81.

Sandor, K. (2015, March). Hooked on needle felting. Grand Rapids Magazine, 52(3), 30.

Sandor, K. (2015, February). Love your skin. Grand Rapids Magazine, 52(2), 20.

Sandor, K. (2015, January). Wallet wisdom. Grand Rapids Magazine, 52(1), 24.

Sandor, K. (2014, April). Pay it forward with dumela beads. Grand Rapids Magazine, 51(4), 17.

Sandor, K. (2012, June). Breaking down the barriers. City Guide: Grand Rapids Magazine, 49(7), 54-55.

Sandor, K. (2012, June). More than just pretty writing. City Guide: Grand Rapids Magazine, 49(7), 21.

Sandor, K. (2012, May). Miles and milestones. Grand Rapids Magazine, 49(5), 21-23.

Sandor, K. (2012, May). Bringing people together one tulip at a time. Grand Rapids Magazine, 49(5), 21-23.

Sandor, K. (2012, April). 125 years of Aquinas college. Grand Rapids Magazine, 49(4), 19-21.

Sandor, K. (2012). Giving youth hands-on opportunities. Current, 50, 3.

Sandor, K. (2012). New grants. Current, 50, 10.

Academic Conference Papers and Presentations

Sandor, K. S. (2015). Understanding work socialization: A qualitative study of a youth employment program. Panel presentation at the 100th Annual National Communication Association Conference in Washington, D.C.

Sandor, K. S. (2014). Understanding work socialization: A qualitative study of a youth employment program. Poster presented at the 8th Annual Research and Creative Activities Poster Day at Western Michigan University.

Sandor, K. S. (2014). Understanding work socialization through young people’s early work experiences. Panel paper presented in the graduate student caucus for the 2014 Central States Communication Association Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sandor, K. S., Zerilli, D., &Volkmann, J. R. (2014). Community learning portfolio: Communication and community engagement through Selfies. G.I.F.T. presented at the 2014 Central States Communication Association Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sandor, K. S. (2013). Understanding work socialization through young people’s part-time job experiences. Paper presented during roundtables in research in progress at the 2013 National Communication Association Conference in Washington, D.C.

Wieland, S. M. B., & Sandor, K. S. (2013). The social construction of burnout: Examining Swedish workers’ narratives of “stress sickness”. Paper presented during roundtables in research in progress at the 2013 National Communication Association Conference, Washington, D.C.

Sandor, K. S. (2012). Technology use in the workplace: An investigation into communication satisfaction. Paper presented at the 2013 Michigan Academy of Science Arts and Letters Annual Conference; Holland, MI.

Swords, N., Sandor, K., & Northouse, L. (2012). Twitter classroom lecture discussion enhanced. G.I.F.T. presented at the 83rd Central States Communication Association Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Katelyn S. Herrygers

Inclusion Advocate, Author & Speaker | Strategic Marketing Consultant