Kirsten grew up in the suburbs of Rockford, Illinois, but spent many of her summer and winter breaks in Radisson, Wisconsin, her father's rural hometown of less than 250 people. There Kirsten hiked through forests, hunted crayfish in the creek, and skated on the frozen Chippewa Flowage. Kirsten was working as an intern at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West: Cody Firearms Museum during the summer of 2017 when she fell in love with Wyoming, its history, and its people. “When I found out about the collections manager job in Dubois, I knew I had to apply because 1) it was a job in the field I went to school for and wanted to work in, and 2) it was in a region of the country that was ripe with both beautiful views and fascinating history.” In addition, Kirsten felt the job itself sounded interesting and challenging while offering opportunities for professional as well as personal growth as I go about taking care of the diverse collections the Dubois Museum holds.
Kirsten holds a B.A. History from Western Illinois University an M.A Museum Studies from Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, and a Collections Care Specialty Track Certificate from International Preservation Studies Center in Mount Carroll, Illinois. Kirsten loves hiking and visiting historic places; bonus points if the two can be combined. Kirsten’s other interests include paleography (the study of old writing), learning about US railroad history, and researching the role firearms played in developing leisure culture.
