Teaching & Research
Megan Kaminski is a Poet and Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Kansas who creates transformative learning experiences through interdisciplinary courses that weave together ecology, writing, and community-engaged practice. Her innovative pedagogy empowers students to connect personal experience with ecological knowledge to develop writing and leadership capacities, as well as lasting commitments to land and community. Through service-learning partnerships, community workshops, and mentorship programs, she bridges academic scholarship with grassroots activism, helping students translate classroom learning into meaningful community impact and healing-centered environmental work to build impactful careers and meaningful lives.
Research Interests
Poetry & Poetics
Eco-arts and Eco-writing Practices
Plant Studies
Care Practices
Disability Poetics and Justice
Queer Ecologies
Teaching Interests
Environmental Humanities and Arts
Environmental Leadership
Local Ecologies & Community Engagement
Environmental Justice
Ecology & Spirituality
Teaching Awards
Community Engaged Scholarship Award, College of Arts and Sciences. University of Kansas (2025). This award recognizes a KU faculty member whose scholarship actively collaborates with a community partner through the creation of and dissemination of knowledge or creative expression while contributing to the scholar’s discipline and strengthening the wellbeing of the community.
Bernadette Gray-Little “Expanding the Reach” Award, Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity. University of Kansas (2019). For a faculty member who is contributing to campus recruitment and retention efforts through their work to promote gender equity and campus diversity.
Finalist, H.O.P.E. (Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator) Award, University of Kansas (2019). Recognizes the recipients’ outstanding teaching and concern for students. It is the only KU award for teaching excellence bestowed exclusively by students.
