Dr. Poulter is the Chair of the Department of Student Teaching and Clinical Experiences. She is also a Professor of Music at Eastern Illinois University, where she has been on the faculty since 1994. Dr. Poulter was the Area Coordinator of Music Education, conducted the select EIU Women's Ensemble, advised the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference (MENC) chapter, advised Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI), and taught several classes for the Department. She is active as a curriculum consultant, clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and performer. Her performances with the internationally recognized ‘Ensemble Choragos’  include those at the Institut fur Musikwissenschaft Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference (Weimar-Jena), Saint Benoit du Sault monastery, Musikinstrumenten-Museum in Berlin, International Musicological Conference in Toronto,  WILL Second Sunday live radio broadcasts, and the American Choral Directors Association conference in San Antonio. Dr. Poulter holds a Doctorate of Education in Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Arts in Choral Conducting, and a Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification, both from Eastern Illinois University.

She is the New Music Teacher Mentor Coordinator for the Illinois Music Educators Association. Dr. Poulter is also a member of the Graduate Faculty. Her research interests include brain development and music, learning theory, and creative processes in composition.

Dr. Poulter is the University coordinator for LiveText, the university's e-portfolio and lesson-planning/teaching software. She is a faculty fellow, working with students in Pemberton Hall, a member of the President's Commission on Energy, Service-Learning Committee, the Executive Committee of the Council of Chairs, and the University Committee on Copyright Issues.