Kirstin is passionate about diverse landscapes, from cryptobiotic desert soil to old growth forests. She originally fostered a love for the outdoors while growing up in the foothills of the Appalachians. Along a Pangea-old river in Central Pennsylvania, she earned her Bachelor’s degrees for Philosophy and Creative Writing. An interest in language led her into multiple cultural landscapes: she has lived as an expat, played music with international ensembles, and has enjoyed reading and writing poetry in English and German.

Holding a PhD in Philosophy from University of Oregon and an MA in Environmental Philosophy from University of Montana, Kirstin is a professor teaching (mostly) indoors at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Her academic interests include ecofeminism, relational ethics and values, and geology.

Kirstin has been instructing in the outdoors for over 15 years in several U.S. states and has been with WRFI since 2019. She is a climber and canoeist in addition to being an avid backpacker. She can often be found enjoying a cup of excellent coffee, preferably after a night of sleeping beneath the stars.