Carrie Cuttler moved to WSU in 2014 after graduating from University of British Columbia, looking to continue her career in cannabis and mental health research.

She mostly teaches 300-level courses, and said she finds it important to use real-life examples to help students better understand the material and stay engaged.

For her, this means sharing experiences in class from her time working with people with schizophrenia in a British Columbia psychiatric hospital and maximum-security prison.

Along with applying her work experience, she utilizes her past research to give an understanding of the material from a different point of view.

“I think the students are really interested in these examples,” Cuttler said, “and [it] helps them better remember the information being presented.”

She said she likes to use humor in the classroom to keep the students focused.

“You can’t teach unless you have attention,” she said.

Cuttler knows college can be stressful, and she tries to be understanding of students’ personal stress, such as financial burdens.

She said she was humbled to be voted best professor.

“I am honored and flattered,” Cuttler said, “to be mentioned among the top WSU professors.”