Teaching & Research

Megan Kaminski is 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 community and healing-centered environmental work to build impactful careers and meaningful lives.

Her writing and interdisciplinary research have been supported by Dumbarton Oaks at Harvard University, the Plant Animacies Workshop of Hixon-Riggs Program for Responsive Science at Harvey Mudd College, the Goodall Environmental Studies Center at Wofford College, Poesia Europa, the Vashon Artist Residency, Arte Studio Ginestrelle, the Tallgrass Artist Residency, the Summer Forum for Inquiry + Exchange, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, the Hall Center for the Humanities, a Keeler Family Intra-University Professorship, and the Interdisciplinary Arts Research Initiative at Spencer Museum of Art.

Research & Teaching Interests

• Poetry & Literary Nonfiction

• Environmental Humanities and Arts

• Environmental Storytelling & Science Writing

• Spiritual Ecology

• Local Ecologies & Community Engagement

• Environmental Leadership

• Queer Ecologies

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.