Erica Waters

Erica Waters is a Senior Lecturer in the English Department at Colorado State University, where she has taught since 2012. Her academic focus includes Literature, Writing, and Composition. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, alongside BFA and BA degrees from Stephens College, along with certifications in healing arts. Her teaching emphasizes process-oriented writing, evidence-based claims, and fostering curiosity and compassion in students. Waters has been recognized as a 2011 Ruth Lilly Fellowship finalist and a 2014 CSU Alumni Association Best Teacher Award nominee.

Her research and creative work explore intersections of body, environment, and poetry, with publications in journals like About Place Journal, Fungi magazine, and Weber—The Contemporary West. She actively engages in community literacy initiatives such as CSU’s SpeakOut! program and rural student support services. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates environmental responsibility, embodiment, and cultural diversity.

Waters has taught courses ranging from World Drama and Composition to Twentieth Century Fiction. Her professional background also includes over a decade as a therapist and small business owner, enriching her teaching with lived experiences across diverse global and domestic contexts.