BIO
Kristy L. Duran grew up in Antonito, Colorado, and is a sixth-generation resident of the San Luis Valley. Her maternal grandparents raised nine children, and insisted that all of them become educators. Education was always extremely important in her family. Her grandmother would constantly remind them, “Education is the one thing no one can take away from you.”
After graduating from high school, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology, followed by a Masters in Neuroscience, and finally, a Doctorate in Evolutionary Biology. She taught as a professor of Biology at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. As a mother, she felt it was important for her to return with her family to the San Luis Valley in Colorado. She wanted to give back to the community that had enriched her life. She is passionate about introducing students to the wonders of science, and teaching them that they, too, can be scientists and be successful in all they choose to accomplish.