Senate Member

Kirsten Engel is a professor at the University of Arizona College of Law where she teaches environmental law and legislative analysis to graduate and undergraduate students. A former associate dean of the College, Kirsten created the Environmental Law Certificate Program and helped launch the student-run Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy. Prior to her teaching career, Ms. Engel practiced environmental law with state and federal agencies.

Kirsten and her husband Scott are the proud parents of a middle school-age daughter. It was the desire to improve the educational opportunities available to Arizona’s public school children and to provide affordable higher education at the State’s universities and community colleges that first motivated Kirsten to run for public office. Active in her daughter’s school, Kirsten brings her passion for education to her work in the legislature.

The daughter of a public school teacher and a theologian, Kirsten worked a variety of odd jobs to help pay her way through college, from scooping ice cream to waitressing to giving guided nature and cultural tours as a National Park Service ranger.

Kirsten lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs in Tucson right down the street from her parents. She enjoys hiking, running and spending time with her family.