Dennise Gackstetter is a visual artist, writer, and educator whose current day job is Principal Lecturer in the Department of Art & Design at Utah State University. Her artwork has been exhibited in venues regionally and nationally. Her writing has been published nationally and regionally including Studio Potter magazine, Blue Mesa Review, and A Celebration of Cache Valley Voices. She has taught in public schools, colleges, and universities nationally, and internationally including Japan, Cuba, and Czech Republic. Always interested in narrative, she seeks the stories hidden beneath the surface and in the folds of everyday life. Her spirit calls Dennise to action in many ways and for many reasons. She feels it is essential to a meaningful life to be an active contributing member in the many communities in which she lives and works. As she serves alongside others, she witnesses the impact of empathy, the importance of integrity, and the value of personal connection.