CURRICULUM VITAE

Susan L. Knott
Salt Lake Community College
Communication Department
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
(801) 647-8491

ACADEMIC DEGREES

Master of Education (2018) Westminster College

Department of Education
Salt Lake City, Utah

Master of Arts (2000) Department of Communication

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

Honors Bachelor of Arts (1996) Department of English

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Early Childhood/Education/Administration
Instructional Communication
Business Communication

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Business Experience

2017-2018 Business Intern, Center for Entrepreneurship, Westminster College

2017-Current Business Mentee, Social Impact Incubator, Westminster College

Teaching and Educational Experience

2003-Current: Adjunct Professor. Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, Utah
2017- June 2018: CAC Child Care Director and Child Care Essentials Refugee Training Program
Director for Rainbow’s End Lab Preschool, Children’s Service Society
Instructional Designer for Care Giving Essentials Training Course and Kindergarten Readiness
Curriculum Program
2016-2018: Administrator Intern & Teacher, Cottonwood Montessori
2015-2016: Administrator Intern, University of Utah Lab Preschool
2016-2017: Administrator Intern & Teacher, Elizabeth Academy
2006-2016: Core Adjunct Professor. Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.
1997-2001 and 2013- 2014: Adjunct Professor. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Courses Designed

SPCH 111 Public Presentations, LE

MPC 652 Effective Presentations
COMM 1010 Introduction to Communication
COMM 1020 Principles of Public Speaking
COMM 1270 Analysis of Argument
COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 1050 Elements of Human Communication
COMM 1120 Principles of Interviewing

Teacher Assistants

COMM Family Communication

COMM Qualitative Research Methods

Online Courses Designed

COMM 1010 Introduction to Communication
COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 1050 Elements of Human Communication
COMM 2150 Intercultural Communication

Online Learning Content Management Program Expertise

Blackboard

Angel

Canvas
Research and Field Experience

1995-1996: Principle Investigator and Ethnographer: longitudinal study of senior adult

couples in a neighborhood community, observed, participated, tape-recorded narratives, and
filmed in Rosepark, Utah. This research resulted in an Honor’s Project titled: “Interactional
Dynamics in the Folklore Event”.

1997: Principle Investigator and Ethnographer: interviews and surveys of married couples in Salt
Lake City, Utah. This research resulted in a research paper titled: “Marital Satisfaction
Comparisons According to Couple Types”.

1997: Research Assistant: development of a service-learning model, research design, and data
analysis in a research project. This project resulted in a research paper titled: “Marital
Communication: A Study of Patterns, Characteristics, and Communication Styles of Intimate
Dyadic Relationships”.

1998: Research Assistant: aided in the research design and data analysis in a longitudinal research
project for the U.S. Forrest Department. This research resulted in a research paper titled:
“Unobtrusive Control and Organizational Identification a Reconsideration of the Role of
Bureaucratic Control in the U.S. Forrest Service” (Awarded Top Three Paper Award, WSCA,
February 1999).

1998: Principle Investigator: compared subject audience responses to two film’s different
representation of marriage. Data gathered by recording and transcribing viewer interviews of two
specific subject populations one generation apart. This research resulted in a research paper titled:
The Epic Movie as a Cultural Representation in Relation to The Interpretive Viewing Process”.

1999: Principle Investigator and Ethnographer: data gathered from 30 married couples using
surveys and recorded conversations. Transcripts coded and analyzed using the Relational
Communication Coding System (Rogers & Ericson, 1979). Title of Study: Examining
Differences in Relational Communication Patterns According to Couple Types”.

1997-2000: Principle Investigator: measured relational satisfaction according to type of married

couples in long-term relationships using methods of observations, tape-recorded narratives,
surveys, and filming. This research resulted in a Master's Thesis titled: “Relational Dynamics in
Marriage; Interpersonal Dynamics in Marriage and Marital Couple Types”.

2007-2009: Volunteer: Worked with Kindergarten ESL students at Lincoln Elementary. Assisting
in Reading and English as a Second Language Comprehension.

2012-2016 Volunteer Director and Ethnographer: Teaching English Class for University of Utah
International Students and Visiting Scholars, tutoring, editing papers and helping to record their
life stories.

2015-2016 Volunteer and Ethnographer: Nineteen Quilts for Natalie Foundation, Helping record
life stories of Cancer Patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute and providing quilts.

2018-Current Volunteer Mentor Refugee Education and Training Center, Meadowbrook Campus,
Salt Lake Community College
PUBLICATIONS

Knott, Susan L.
1996 Interactional Dynamics in the Folklore Event. Department of English,
University of Utah.

Knott, Susan L.
2001 Relational Dynamics in Marriage; Interpersonal Dynamics in Marriage and

Marital Couple Types. Department of Communication, University of Utah.

Knott, Susan L.
2018 Best Practices for Child-Directed Early Learning
School of Education, Westminster College

AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL MEETING PRESENTATIONS

1996 Honors B.A, Degree, University of Utah

1995 Hadley Browning Memorial Scholarship, Honors Department, University of Utah

1997 Top Three Paper Award for Paper Presented, Western States Communication
Convention

SERVICE

2018-currrent Refugee Education and Training Center, Mentor for Women and Children
2012-2017 Volunteer English Teacher & Tutor for University of Utah International Students and
Visiting Scholars
1995-2017 English Language Learners Peer Tutor, University of Utah
2005-2008 English Language Learners Teacher’s Aide, Lincoln Elementary
2007 Hearts Club Advisor, Westminster College
2007-2012 Youth for Human Rights Mentor
Board Member, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Board Member, Utah Parents and Teachers Association

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Philanthropic Education Organization International

American Montessori Society
Western States Communication
International Speech Communication Association
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Golden Key National Honor Society
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
National MS Society
SAGE Connection
The Association for Authentic, Experiential, and Evidence-Based Learning
January 28, 2020

Re: Recommendation for Susan Knott

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in strong support of Susan Knott’s application for University of Utah Graduate Program.
Ms. Knott would bring a wealth of teaching experience and an outstanding academic background to the
Program. I have high praise for her accomplishment and feel I can speak with confidence about her
qualifications.

Ms. Knott received an Honors Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Communication
from the University of Utah. I was first impressed with Susan’s scholarly abilities when she took a class
from me during her undergraduate days. Later, in graduate school when I served as her professor and
chair of her Masters committee, she continued to demonstrate her intellectual strengths through the
breadth of her knowledge of the humanities and communication literature, her conceptual understandings
of communication theories, her research abilities and strong writing skills. Susan Knott’s record of
scholarly achievements is an important and valuable component of her strengths as a teacher as well as a
student.

Ms. Knott taught a number of different communication courses during her time at the University of Utah.
From the beginning, Susan excelled as a teacher. She brought to her teaching not only a sound
knowledge of communication, but a creative, open and lively teaching style that invites students to
engage in the ideas and discussions of the course material. Her approach promotes an enjoyable, student-
oriented, yet a strong, learning environment. Ms. Knott has a true passion for teaching. She finds
teaching to be highly rewarding and in turn, student evaluations indicate a very high regard for her
teaching ability.

Ms. Knott has continued to teach various communication courses as an Adjunct Instructor at Salt Lake
Community College and at Westminster College. She continues to build a strong record of teaching and
learning which advances professional academic career and adds credibility to her qualifications. In sum,
Susan Knott is an engaging, competent, dedicated teacher who is fully committed to a teaching career. I
highly recommend and endorse her consideration to the selection committee.

L. Edna Rogers
Professor Emerita
University of Utah
May 16, 2018

To Whom It May Concern,

It is with pleasure that I offer this letter of recommendation for Susan Knott. First, allow me to
introduce myself. I am Bobbi Nichols, director and owner of Oakridge Montessori. I have been
the administrator over 6 teachers and aides. I am a certified Montessori teacher for ages 3
through 6 and have been working with this age group in the Montessori field for almost 30 years.

I have known Susan for about 2 years. She came to me to complete her Practicum for the
Montessori Innovations program at Westminster College. She also became a mentor for one of
my teacher’s aides who was also in the Innovations program. She helped this young lady to
better understand and implement the Montessori Method of teaching in preparation for her
certification testing. Susan and I worked closely together during this time. After careful
observation and preparation, she was able to present individual and small group lessons with
ease. Her patience with this young group of children was amazing. She was able to keep them
engaged and hold their attention, always with a positive attitude and big smile. Susan is a very
intelligent and well-spoken woman. Since I’ve known her, she has always enjoyed helping
children uncover their strengths and joy of learning. I know she has a vision of nurturing the
spirit and minds of children. She truly demonstrates a love for teaching young children. Susan
is a favorite of the entire staff and works well with everyone. She enjoys interacting with the
children’s parents, as well and has established a joyful relationship with many of them.

During the time she spent doing her Administration Practicum, from February through May of
2017, she also explored many of the administrative policies and procedures of the business. She
paid close attention to detail and became familiar with many of the management techniques. She
continues to work with me on a volunteer basis. The children and staff are always excited to see
her. She brings enthusiasm and delight to the classroom.

It is without reservation that I recommend Susan Knott to you. If I can be of further assistance in
support of Susan, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Bobbi Nichols
Bobbi Nichols, Director
Oakridge Montessori