Ditlev Larsen is a native of Denmark and has lived in the U.S and Minnesota since 1993. His research interests focus on TESL, cross-cultural composition and sociolinguistics, and he was the 2001 recipient of the Henry Borow Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research at the University of Minnesota for his doctorate dissertation, Freshman College Students Acquiring Academic Writing: An Examination of Basic Writers and ESL Writers. Before joining the faculty of Winona State in 2003 as ESL coordinator, he has taught a variety of courses in ESL, composition, linguistics and literature at St. Cloud State University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Publications include articles/chapters in Theoretical Perspectives on Developmental Education and the Pragmatics and Language Learning Monograph.

 A former elite middle distance runner, he still enjoys racing "somewhat" competitively and has previously served as distance running coach at the University of Minnesota and for USA Track and Field. When not teaching or running, he spends his time studying the life and music of "the most influential native Minnesotan of all time," Bob Dylan. He lives in Winona with his wife, Susan, and son Hans.