Kelly Sassi is an assistant professor of English and Education at North Dakota State University in Fargo. She taught high school English in Fairbanks, Alaska for six years before pursuing her doctorate at the University of Michigan. Currently, she co-directs the Red River Valley Writing Project and works closely with teachers in transitioning to the Common Core State Standards. She teaches methods courses in English, Young Adult Literature, and graduate courses in composition. Her areas of research include writing on demand, pedagogical approaches to Native American literature(s), and teaching for social justice.