Steve Kolas was born in Korcha, Albania on July 13, 1924 and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a Pre-dentistry student at the Ohio State University, 1944-1946. He achieved his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1950 from the College of Dentistry at Ohio State. While pursuing a graduate degree in pathology, he worked at Ohio State as a teaching assistant and instructor. After earning his Master of Science degree in 1954, he joined the Ohio State faculty as an Assistant Professor. Kolas became Chairman of Oral Pathology at the rank of Associate Professor in 1958.

In 1968, Kolas left Ohio State University to join his OSU classmate and teaching associate Dr. Judson C. Hickey at the newly established School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. Hickey was the founding dean of the MCG School of Dentistry and Kolas was the founding chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology.

Kolas served as the Oral Pathology Chairman until 1979 when he was appointed as the Associate Dean for Students in the School of Dentistry. He served as the Associate Dean until 1984. He continued to be a member of the Oral Pathology department until his retirement in 1988. Upon his retirement the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia bestowed upon Kolas the following titles: Associate Dean for Students Emeritus, Chairman Emeritus, and Professor Emeritus of Oral Pathology.

Kolas was active in the American Academy of Oral Pathology, the Augusta Rotary Club, and the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Augusta, Georgia. He passed away on January 2, 2003.