Compton was born and raised in the farming community of Bangor, Prince Edward Island.[1] She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Prince Edward Island, her Masters from York University and her PhD from the University of New Brunswick.[2] Until retiring to write full-time in 2012, Dr. Compton taught literature and creative writing for the Department of Humanities and Languages at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, where she also served as Writer-in-Residence and, for many years, the Director of the Lorenzo Reading Series. She serves on the New Brunswick Arts Board.[3]
Awards and honors
In 2007, Compton was a featured writer at the Maritime Writers' Workshop & Literary Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
In 2008, she received the Alden Nowlan Award for excellence in English language literary arts,[1] presented by the New Brunswick Arts Board, as well as the National Magazine Award in Poetry. The same year, she received the following awards from the University of New Brunswick, Saint John: Excellence in Teaching Award for the Department of Humanities and Languages and Excellence in Teaching Award for the Faculty of Arts.[4]
In 2012, Compton won the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[4]