Susan Ertel, Associate Professor of English and Composition Program Coordinator, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Central Arkansas. Ertel has been teaching college-level composition courses since 1989. She has been teaching at Utah Tech University since January of 1999. Ertel’s areas of research interest include at-risk students, first-generation students, science fiction, and social justice. Ertel has presented at state, regional, and national conferences. She has held leadership roles in the English department, at Dixie State, regionally, and nationally. Ertel is the recipient of the NISOD Excellence in Teaching award and the Lucille Speakman Excellence in Teaching award from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Recently, she was awarded the Excellence in Education award from the Board of Trustees at Dixie State University.