Ms. Olson

Ms. Olson has taught students of all ages, from first graders to college students and adult learners, though the bulk of her teaching experience is at the high school and college levels. She loves creating a space where students, no matter their age, can wonder, tinker, and think. She has worked in college counseling since 2012, first as Director of College Counseling at a boarding school and later in private practice. Along the way, she has continued to teach literature, composition, and creative writing.

Ms. Olson holds a B.A. in English Literature from Northwestern University, an M.A. in English Literature from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from CSU.

Ms. Olson began her work in schools at boarding and day schools across the country. She and her husband have moved across the country several times for different jobs and academic opportunities, but Colorado has always felt most like home. Seven years ago, they decided they wanted to raise their children in Colorado, where they first met, where they both began teaching, and where they fell in love with the outdoors.

Since moving to Fort Collins, Ms. Olson has kept her eyes on the academic landscape. What drew her to return to in-school college counseling at Ridgeview was the school's focus on rigorous academics, its commitment to reading good books, and its robust outdoor program.

Q & A with Ms. Olson

Where were you born and where have you lived?

I was born in Boston, raised in Milwaukee, and went to college outside of Chicago at Northwestern University. Since leaving the Midwest, I have lived in Vermont, Oregon, and Colorado. Colorado is home. 

Where did you attend university or college?

I have my BA in English Literature from Northwestern University, my MA in English Literature from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and my MFA in Creative Writing from CSU. 

What kind of reading do you most enjoy doing?

I feel most like myself when I am reading and am never without a book. On the canonical side: I love F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison, and Jane Austen. I also DEVOUR contemporary fiction. You will find me scouring new releases regularly. My favorite authors are Ann Patchett, Curtis Sittenfeld,  Tom Perrotta, and Emma Straub. I write fiction and creative nonfiction and draw inspiration from both the classics and from contemporary literature. 

What are the small essentials that make life more comfortable?

A good book, a kombucha, a stack of picture books to read aloud to my children, a just-right pen, an early morning walk, time to write before my children get up

What are your favorite snacks?

I like kombucha, Envy or Gala apples, and ice cream.

What do you do to unwind?

There is nothing I love more than being outside hiking with my husband and children, but when we can't get into the mountains, I enjoy a long walk, a chat with a friend, or listening to my children playing around me.