NE North Dakota News

Eric Furuseth, a scholar and performer with deep roots in North Dakota, has built a career that combines education and the arts. With degrees from the University of North Dakota and Washington State University, Furuseth's journey began in Williston and included a significant period living on an Army base in Stuttgart, Germany. His teaching career started in Alexander before he settled in Minot, where he became an integral part of the local arts community.

Furuseth shared insights into his background: "I was born in North Dakota and raised in Williston until age 11, when my family moved to Albany, Oregon. When I was 14, we moved to an Army base in Stuttgart, Germany." He noted how his family's European travels influenced his path towards becoming a humanities professor.

His academic journey led him to teach English and German initially. After further studies at UND and Washington State University, he found a lasting position at Minot State University following Floyd Fairweather's retirement. Furuseth described this transition as pivotal: "When I finished my degree in 1993...I have been at Minot State ever since."

In discussing his teaching philosophy, Furuseth emphasized student engagement: "In recent years, I have found that the best way to teach literature or film is to insist that the students come to class having read the assignment and prepared to talk about it."

His scholarly interests include Shakespeare and British literature alongside American film. On these subjects' interrelation, he stated: "As subjects they certainly overlap...they are endlessly interesting from both aesthetic and historical points of view."

Furuseth's creative writing extends from his academic pursuits into public presentations of short stories set locally. He also writes scripts for annual Renaissance Feasts.

Performance remains central to Furuseth's life through involvement with groups like Western Plains Opera and Minot Chamber Chorale. He explained how performance enriches understanding of literature: "Performers and scholars sometimes appear to be rivals over ownership of great works of art...we generally don't see those divisions."

He encourages students' participation in arts by sharing enthusiasm for artistic endeavors: "I hope that the joy I get from these experiences is conveyed to them by my enthusiasm."

Reflecting on nearly five decades with Western Plains Opera Company (WPO), Furuseth expressed pride in its achievements: "WPO has managed consistently to create yearly high-quality professional opera performances for close to 50 years." Looking ahead, he continues performing while contributing scholarly work on British literary topics.

Outside academia and performance, Furuseth enjoys listening to audiobooks extensively each year along with sports fandom involving teams like Beavers or Vikings.

Minot State University supports excellence across education sectors through active learning environments fostering public service commitments within vibrant campus settings.