Deanna Keller, LPN, CTT, MA

(She/He/Hers)Faculty Department/Office: Liberal Arts And Sciences

About Deanna

What do you do at LSC and how do you support students/community?

I primarily teach First Year Experience as well Comp I & II and Modern Fantasy when needed. I am also the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Chapter Advisor for Lake Superior College as well as the Associate Regional Coordinator for the PTK Minn-Kota Region.

I help students and PTK chapter members make meaning by connecting learning to authentic experiences.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I believe life is one of our greatest teachers—provided we are willing to observe.

Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work in many different fields. I've been a nurse, clinical analyst, technical trainer, business owner, writer, musician, and educator. At first glance those experiences may seem unrelated, but over time I've realized they all share a common thread: each taught me to observe carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and help others make sense of complex ideas.

That philosophy shapes every course I teach.

Whether we're studying writing, leadership, communication, or literature, my goal is not simply to help you complete assignments. I want to help you connect what you're learning to your own experiences so the ideas remain meaningful long after the course has ended.

You will probably notice that I tell stories in class. Those stories aren't distractions—they're object lessons. They connect concepts to real life because learning is more powerful when we can see it in action.

I believe every student brings valuable experiences, perspectives, and strengths into the classroom. My role isn't simply to teach content; it's to create opportunities for you to connect new learning to what you already know while challenging you to think in new ways.

My hope is that when you leave one of my classes, you won't simply remember what we studied—you'll see the world a little differently.

Because learning isn't confined to a classroom.

Life is a great teacher—as long as we're observing.

Education Background

• Practical Nursing at Wisconsin Technical Institute
• A.A. at Lake Superior College
• BA - English College of St. Scholastica
• MA - English and Literature at Arizona State University

Certifications/Licenses

• LPN
• CTT (Certified Technical Trainer)
• Mental Health First Aid

Awards/Honors

• Phi Theta Kappa Guistewhite Scholar 
• Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholar
• Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar.
• Circle of Excellence Award - St. Scholastica
• Hart Peterson English Award - St. Scholastica
• Arizona State University Graduate Excellence Award
• PTK Distinguished Chapter Advisor

Hobbies/Interests

I'm all about the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, camping, and snowshoeing. We practice as much farm-to-table with our little hobby farm, so loving to cook and bake is a must. 

Growing up under the hot Kansas sun, I spent many long hours sitting under the apricot tree with my nose either stuck in a book or writing in scruffy notebooks, careful composing stereotypically bad teenage poetry with a number two pencil. Exploring writing as an adult, I found my voice blogging about my observations and musings surrounding life using a ghost name. Writing and expanding upon the stories that my parent's would tell me about growing up poor in the deep Ozarks of Arkansas has been a quiet passion--someday to be shared. 

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