Associate Professor Amy Krist from the department of zoology and physiology feels as though her position at the university has allowed her to do what she loves; teaching, working with graduate and undergraduate students, advising and exploring new ideas.
Krist is a first-generation college graduate and the first of her siblings to achieve a Ph.D. Through familial support and childhood exposure to the wonders that nature possesses she was able to start paving her way through the world of academia.
Even at a young age, Krist knew she was interested in history as well as the natural world. During a trip to the Smithsonian with her family, she was struck by the fact that there were artifacts and remnants of the past still to be discovered.
“I was fascinated by history,” Krist said. “I actually told my mom when I was 8 years old, I think that’s when they knew I was going to be different from the other kids, that I wanted to be a physical anthropologist.”
As Krist continued through her education, she also discovered her passion for nature and science. When attending the University of New York at Potsdam, she double-majored in both of her interests as she sought the best of both fields.
“I feel like there’s a neat balance in having a history and a biology major [because] the two disciplines require using different sides of the brain,” said Krist.
As Krist went into her graduate studies, she decided that she loved biology a little bit more, even though she continues to value the humanities.
“I’m so fascinated by how the natural world works, and, you know, biology is always more interesting than we expect it to be,” Krist said. “We make these very logical predictions based on what other people have found and what we know and we get it totally wrong!”
Krist’s enthusiasm for her field and classes in animal biology allow her to share what she feels is most important about the subject while she uses her excitement to teach her classes in a dynamic manner.
“I’m willing to be silly because I’m just really in the moment and enjoying it,” Krist said. “These creatures are really awesome, and I want you guys to think so too! An awareness of animals leads to a mindset that science is important [and] that conserving biodiversity is important.”
One of Krist’s students and lab assistants, biology major Jaide Wachtel, attributes her increased interest in biology to having been inspired by Krist.
“She definitely got me excited about biology,” said Wachtel. “That’s been my major all along, but she really got me engaged in the material and got me excited about actually pursuing a career in biology.”
Krist has been at UW for the past 14 years, which has given her a long time to continue positively affecting the lives of her students. One of her greatest passions in life is showing students that they can truly accomplish anything if they apply themselves and pursue their dreams.
“A large part of being successful requires being motivated to learn,” Krist said. “I would say that, yes, you have to have a certain amount of intelligence, but I think most of it is that you have [to] decide that you’re excited about something and really driven.”
Throughout hardships and the issues of daily life, Krist often finds her schedule filling up with students that look to her for guidance and advice. However, she always seems to make time for improving relationships and connections with the people she comes in contact with.
“She still takes time for her students, she still takes time to reach out to student researchers and to connect with those who work in her lab and those who are in her class,” Olivia Croft, biology major, said. “Because of her and because of mentors like her, I was able to succeed.”
Croft feels as though Krist has been instrumental in the development of her passion for the sciences. Student experiences such as this attest to the fact that Krist’s goal of encouraging students and helping them to see themselves in fields of work that they can build upon with success.
“You should just follow your passion, right?” Krist said. “You should do what you’re excited about. We spend an inordinate amount of time at work, you should be totally jazzed about it.”
