Steve's career began 39 years ago at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Today, he and his wife, Sam Carter Gilliam, collaborate as a husband and wife theatrical design team (SLG Design & Creative Talent) with designs throughout the United States. Recent work include the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, starring Theodore Bikel, the Sealion, Walrus and Otter Show at SeaWorld; art direction for Trendmasters' New York Toy Fair, a Christmas show for Legoland Theme Park in San Diego, and designs for the 90th Season at the St. Louis MUNY, America's largest outdoor theatre seating 12,000. The Gilliams have design credits with Chicago's Light Opera Works; Georgia's Springer Opera House; Six Flags Theme Parks in New Jersey, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas; Colorado Shakespeare Festival; Kansas City Starlight Theatre; Opryland Theme Park; Village Theatre in Seattle; Baltimore's Cockpit-In-Court; and ARTS San Antonio. A member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829, Mr. Gilliam has been resident scenic designer for the past thirteen seasons of music theatre at the MUNY in St. Louis.

At Trinity, a member of the faculty since 1981, Steve is the Director of Theatre and teaches Introduction to Theatre, Principles of Design, Scene Design, University Theatre Company, Theatre Graphics and Scene Painting. He received his B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and his M.F.A. from the University of Michigan.