Couture-Nowak was teaching an Intermediate French class in Room 211 at Norris Hall on the morning of April 16, 2007 when she was killed by Seung-Hui Cho as one of the 32 victims in the Virginia Tech shootings.
Upon hearing gunfire nearby, just before Cho arrived at Norris 211, Couture-Nowak attempted to barricade the classroom door with the help of a student and ushered her students to the back of the class for their safety while 911 was called.