She joined the college in 2011. Professor Phelps teaches and advises on topics related to STEM equity, science and art integration, culturally responsive home/school/family partnerships, and teacher leadership in cultures of change. She advocates for arts integration, promoting the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities. Prior to joining the faculty at Fort Lewis College, Phelps served as an educational developer specialist for Family Friendly Schools in Chico, California, and as an elementary teacher in Cortez and Dolores, Colorado. She also taught in the United Kingdom as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher.