Sean Prentiss, Award-Winning Author and Associate Professor of English

I stumbled into teaching by accident. I meant to get a job digging trails in wilderness. Instead I got a job digging trails in the wilderness and leading at-risk youth. I soon discovered that I loved teaching and leading as much as being in wildness. The things I love about teaching are watching students take risks, grow, explore, and become passionate about some new idea. Literally every day is better after I teach because students bring so much energy to class. They repeatedly inspire me.

I grew up with a deep love for the environment. I am drawn to the quiet and remote places, which is one of the reasons I chose to teach at Norwich University. I am drawn to the places on the edges. And much like how I accidentally fell into teaching, I also accidentally fell into creative writing. But once I began writing, I realized that it allowed me to be creative, to take risks, to explore myself, and to explore ideas. It allowed me to grow and change and question who I am and why I am that way.  

And there’s that famous quote, "If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life." So I decided to do just that, to be a creative and environmental writer who also teaches. Now, whether I am at home writing a poem or at campus teaching, every day is a joy because I get to live my passions.