Kelly Kistner, PhD

Dr. Kelly Kistner is a social scientist and educator whose work bridges academic mentorship, entrepreneurship, and advocacy for experiential learning, liberal arts education, and inclusive knowledge production. She earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of Washington, where she also served as a lecturer, writing advisor, and curriculum researcher. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in sociology and business administration from the University at Buffalo (SUNY), located in her hometown of Buffalo, New York.

Her interdisciplinary research spans sociology, history, science and technology studies, and education, with a particular interest in the history and sociology of knowledge production. She has received numerous prestigious fellowships and awards, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship and the German government’s DAAD Doctoral Grant for research conducted through Humboldt University in Berlin. She has also studied and worked abroad in Oxford, Vienna, Göttingen, Melbourne, and Singapore.

Dr. Kistner spent over nine years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a faculty member and academic administrator, where she led and developed programs that prepared students for graduate study and diverse career paths. She has instructed thousands of students, participated in and led multiple selection committees, and was honored with UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award for her dedication to student development. Her recent peer-reviewed publications explore the personal and professional impact of independent research experiences in the humanities and social sciences.

A self-described research generalist, Dr. Kistner is skilled in archival research, comparative case studies, survey design, interviews, statistical analysis, and holistic program assessment. She believes social science is not just for academics, but a toolkit for addressing real-world problems across sectors. In addition to her experience in academia and higher education, Kelly's professional background spans work in federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, research and policy, technology, and talent acquisition.

She is the founder and director of Another Degree, where she leads classes, develops curriculum and research programs, and personally mentors clients in graduate school admissions, research and dissertation coaching, and navigating academic and alt-ac career tracks.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys sunny days, road trips, podcasts, dogs, and breakfast sandwiches. She is a lifelong night owl who tends to do most of her writing late at night.