Brief biography:

Kristen is a native of Colorado, the daughter of a pastor, and the eldest of six children. Her love of mathematics led her to a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. While studying at UCCS, she was privileged to work as a research assistant in the field of computational fluid dynamics. During her undergraduate degree, she began to perceive the need for quality mathematics teachers in the K-12 educational sphere. After graduation from UCCS, she worked as a mechanical engineer for four years. During this time, continued reading and research on education led her to pursue further study in classical education.

 Research interests: ‍

As someone who enjoys reading, especially the classics, I would be interested in further exploring the relationships and connections between math and literature.

 Recent professional developments (publications, conferences, fellowships, internships/employment):

Mechanical Engineer at Semquest, Inc.

 Post-graduation plans:

‍I hope to teach math and physics at a classical school.

 What has been the thing you’ve appreciated most about your time here?

‍During my time here, I’ve most appreciated the cohort model. All of us come from different backgrounds and have expertise in different areas. The result is that I have much to learn from my fellow students. I have enjoyed learning in partnership with my class mates, whether through one-on-one conversations, through presentations in class, or through in-class discussions.

 What has been your greatest academic challenge thus far?

‍So far, my greatest academic challenge has been adjusting to a different style and genre of writing. The learning curve this first semester has been steep as I hone my writing style and develop good practices for the process of writing an academic paper.

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