Kirsten (Kris) Christensen

Fields of Interest:

Urban Geography and Planning, Cultural Geography, Human Environmental Impacts, Regional Geographies, and Western Land Use

Biography

Kirsten (Kris) Christensen is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and an Instructor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver. A "triple alumna" of CU Denver, she holds a B.S. in Music Management, a Master of Social Science (MSS) with an emphasis in urban history, political science, and historic preservation, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP). She has taught in the department since 2010, bringing a background rooted in urban studies and cultural landscapes to her classes. Her research expertise includes the preservation of Colorado’s historic structures, specifically grain elevators and the historic contexts of the Eastern Plains and the Rocky Mountain National Park.

As Director of Undergraduate Studies, Kris acts as a dedicated guide for the department’s students, advising them on majors, minors, and their broader academic paths. She is passionate about helping students from all disciplines reach their potential, whether in her advising office or in courses such as Urban Resiliency and Sustainability, Urban Geography, Introduction to Urban Studies, and Power of Maps.  A native Coloradan who still resides in her childhood home, she brings a deep personal connection to the region into her work. When she isn't teaching or researching regional planning, she is likely woodworking, reading, waterwise gardening, or cheering on the Colorado Rockies.