FT Biology Instructor

Kirstin Purcell

Academic Affairs, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

Kirstin Purcell has been teaching biology courses at Saint Paul College since the fall of 2009. She is honored to be part of a biology department known for their educational innovation and student-centered curriculum. She has an interest in teaching general biology courses as well as human-centered courses such as anatomy and physiology. Kirstin comes to Saint Paul College with six years of teaching experience in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. The courses that she has taught include: General Biology, Concepts in Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Human Body, Medical Terminology and Environmental Biology. She completed her B.A. in Biology and English from the University of Minnesota, Morris. In 1998, Kirstin completed a Masters Degree in Education with an emphasis in Life Science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Kirstin has also completed a second Masters Degree in Life Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. Kirstin believes that teaching is a privilege. It provides her with the opportunity to help people realize their potential and to achieve their educational goals. She also believes that teaching demands introspection and humility. Her teaching philosophy abides by the Chinese proverb: “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” When not pursuing her professional interests, Kirstin enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, bird watching, and gardening.