Deep Roots, Bold Future: How NICC's Keith Lesmeister Bridges Real-World Craft and the Classroom

As Northeast Iowa Community College celebrates its milestone anniversary, faculty members like Keith Lesmeister showcase what "Deep Roots, Bold Future" looks like in practice. As a communications faculty member at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Lesmeister brings the active, daily practice of an author, editor and publisher directly into the classroom.

Lesmeister, who teaches creative writing and introductory communications courses, approaches his role not as a passive academic, but as an active practitioner. His upcoming short story collection, "Ask Me About the Money," scheduled for release this November through Cornerstone Press, serves as a direct extension of the regional, character-driven storytelling he explores with his students.

Deep Roots: Grounded in Community and Connection

A longtime resident of Decorah and raised in Cedar Rapids, Lesmeister emphasizes a shared connection with the regional community in his teaching.

"Most of my students are from the Upper Midwest," Lesmeister said. "We share in common this sense of place and a sense for the characters who inhabit these spaces. When we're talking about writing stories, it's a way for us to connect in terms of what students want to talk about in their own work."

Bold Future: Preparing Students for Tomorrow

A primary focus for Lesmeister is addressing student resistance toward reading and writing. Acknowledging that many enrolled in introductory courses are non-English majors who can feel intimidated by public speaking or written assignments, Lesmeister works to shift their perspective.

"My goal as an instructor is to capture a sense of fun for the students," Lesmeister explained. "Writing can be very intense labor. But I also want there to be discovery and excitement on the page."

Beyond basic course requirements, Lesmeister shapes his curriculum around skills critical to modern workplaces:

• Creative Thinking: Encouraging students to look beyond standard critical analysis to generate original ideas and approach problems from new angles.
• Team-Oriented Writing: Structuring collaborative assignments to mirror professional environments where isolated work is rare.
• Practical Lifelong Skills: Frame reading and effective communication as adaptable tools relevant to technical and non-literary career paths alike.

Active Practice in the Classroom

As an editor for the literary journal Cutleaf and EastOver Press, Lesmeister regularly reads new work across genres, bringing fresh perspectives and contemporary examples to his students.

"I'm a practicing writer who teaches writing," Lesmeister said. "I understand the joys of writing, and I understand the painstaking labor of it as well."

Through this dual role as an active author and educator, Lesmeister works to show NICC students that clear communication and creative problem-solving are skills developed through practice, feedback and collaboration.

"Ask Me About the Money" officially releases on Nov. 3, with pre-release events scheduled across Iowa and the region.

To hear more about Lesmeister's work as a writer and instructor, listen to the latest episode of the NICC podcast at nicc.edu/podcast.