2025 Professional Panelist

At the Faire National Yearbook Review, we believe in providing student creativity with thoughtful, real-world feedback. This is why we are thrilled to introduce this year's guest panelist and the expertise these professionals bring. Alongside Faire's founder, Heidi Frampton, panelists review submitted publications, evaluating students' work based on rubrics designed to meet current industry and educational standards. This year's guest panelist are Andrew Burns and Ashley Morrow Hermseier.

We are delighted to welcome this year’s Faire guest panelist, Andrew Burns, a renowned Southern California-based professional photographer and visual storyteller. His work captures people, narratives, and moments with clarity and depth. He has joined our panel to review student literary publications, offering a unique creative perspective that extends beyond the written word.

Andrew Burns is more than just a photographer; he’s a visual interpreter of stories, specializing in commercial portrait and lifestyle photography that enables individuals and brands to express their true identities. Based in Southern California, his work ranges from environmental portraits to brand storytelling, collaborating with clients like LA Metro, Johnson & Johnson, Sharp Healthcare, Qualcomm, and more.

Andrew is also active in the creative community, engaging in workshops and events focused on lighting and visual communication. He is an active member of the American Photographic Artists (APA) San Diego chapter, where he shares his expertise with other visual professionals as a former board member.

As a photographer, he aims to connect with his subjects and capture a glimpse of their story through portrait and lifestyle photography. He applies this same philosophy as a panelist, evaluating student work with curiosity, respect, and a focus on storytelling.

Faire is pleased to present our professional writing panelist, Ashley Morrow Hermsmeier. Ashley possesses more than 20 years of extensive experience in the field of English language education and writing instruction, primarily based in the city of San Diego.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to the academic community not only as a dedicated educator but also as a visiting professor at various universities. This role has allowed her to engage with a diverse array of students and faculty, enriching her teaching methodologies and broadening her academic perspective.

Panelist Ashley Morrow Hermsmeier is a practicing writer; her fiction and essays have been featured in Phoebe (Winner of the 2017 Spring Fiction Contest, judged by Patricia Park), Michigan Quarterly Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Cease Cows, Front Porch Journal, Gemini (Winner of the 2015 Flash Fiction Contest and Pushcart Prize nominee), and Weber- The Contemporary West, among others.

She was the winner of the Fall 2017 Black River Chapbook Contest organized by Black Lawrence Press, and her short story collection, Something Like the End, is now available for purchase. She earned a B.A. and M.A. from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and an MFA from Pacific University in Oregon.

Her professional journey is marked by a profound depth of knowledge in editing and assessing student work, which has honed her ability to provide constructive feedback and foster a supportive learning environment. Ashley's keen eye for creative writing enables her to guide aspiring writers in developing their unique voices and enhancing their storytelling abilities. Her commitment to nurturing talent and her passion for the written word make her a valuable asset as a professional panelist at Faire Review.

Heidi Frampton, Faire founder and panelist, is a seasoned multimedia designer and educator with over 20 years of experience creating compelling visual narratives across digital, print, and interactive platforms. Her professional career includes designing for globally recognized lifestyle and apparel brands such as Quiksilver, Honda, Yamaha and prAna, where she developed visually driven content that connected brand identity, storytelling, and audience engagement.

At the core of Heidi’s work is a deep understanding of visual storytelling- the ability to communicate ideas, emotion, and meaning through thoughtful design, imagery, and narrative structure. Her experience spans branding, editorial layout, digital media, web design, motion, and photography, allowing her to approach each project with both creative vision and strategic clarity.

In addition to her professional design work, Heidi is a dedicated multimedia and journalism educator, guiding students to think critically about how stories are told across platforms. She emphasizes ethical storytelling, strong visual composition, and the integration of words and images to create authentic, impactful narratives. Her teaching bridges industry standards with classroom practice, preparing students to become thoughtful creators in an evolving media landscape.

With a career that blends industry expertise, education, and storytelling, Heidi Frampton brings a rich perspective to every creative and instructional environment- championing visuals not just as design elements, but as powerful tools for communication and connection.

Heidi has a passion to encourage student creativity, and support student literary programs by reviewing and acknowledging outstanding student work.

Combining industry knowledge, education, and storytelling, Heidi Frampton offers a unique perspective in both creative and educational settings, advocating for visuals as essential tools for communication and connection, not merely design elements.

Faire and all the panelists are passionate about nurturing student creativity and promoting genuine storytelling and documentation of students' real-life experiences through writing and photography. Faire is dedicated to supporting literary programs by acknowledging and celebrating outstanding student work and the talented faculty who make these programs possible.