Jennifer Foster Caldwell

I’m from Erie, PA, a mid-sized city on the Great Lake Erie. We had beaches in the summer and skiing in the winter. The first time I beheld the Rocky Mountains, I was 17 visiting Western. It was glorious! I love everything about these mountains and my eyes often tear up at the beauty here. I began skiing when I was four (It would have been earlier but my dad broke his leg skiing). I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors more than indoors and I developed my love for teaching as a ski instructor at Crested Butte Mountain Resort while attending my sophomore year at Western . Teaching is my number one, my heart but I’ve also experienced professional experiences in media, tourism and construction. I am incredibly lucky to be a part of the amazing Western community.

How did you discover Western?

I saw Western in a ski magazine during my senior year at high school. I was intrigued. My dad made a deal with me that if I received a scholarship we’d visit the campus and ski at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. It was love at first sight!

What are some of the highlights of your career?

This right here. I have the opportunity to teach at my alma mater!

What most excites you about your field?

The stories, the creative process, the universal truths, the what-ifs, and the “a-ha! moments” are so inspiring and addictive. I love how this field has so many paths you can discover and create. Fiction and nonfiction reveal an author’s perception and observation about history, society and the politics of any given time. Dead poets are speaking to us through the ages. It’s magical.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

The opportunity to experience a unique lifestyle in a remote town where natural beauty resides around every corner. It was love at first sight for me as an undergrad at Western. I saw a rainbow over Escalante Hall during summer orientation and the valley has held my heart ever since. Oh! And the skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, camping, etc., did I mention skiing?