Kirsten Gardner, Ph.D.

Ricardo Romo Ph.D. Endowed Professorship

Distinguished Teaching Professor, History

Kirsten Gardner’s research interests include issues of women’s health, social justice, technology and healthcare, and women in the military. Her current research examines the history of diabetes and technology since the discovery of insulin.

She is co-principal investigator of the Democratizing Racial Justice Project, a multi-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation that seeks to put higher education in service of communities of color, and transform the role of higher education through increasing access to Ethnic Studies and Humanities. 

To support her research efforts, Gardner has been awarded over $5.2 million in competitive funding from organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Her research has been featured in book chapters and refereed journals such as the Journal of Medical Humanities, The Journal of Women’s History and Gender, Health, and Popular Culture. Gardner also served as a reviewer for several academic journals and was on the editorial review board of the Journal of Medical Humanities for 17 years. 

In recognition of her outstanding teaching, Gardner was awarded the University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award — the highest teaching award in the UT System — the UTSA President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching, and the UTSA President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Innovation and Impact.   

Since joining UTSA in 2006, Gardner has been highly involved on campus. She has served on multiple thesis and dissertation committees for her students and was as an academic advisor for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her past roles include chair of the Department of History, coordinator of the American Studies Program, and committee chair of the Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars. Furthermore, Gardner has been a member of several committees for academic programs and course redesigns, among others.

Gardner is an active member of the San Antonio community as well, meeting frequently with local high school history clubs and participating in events for K–12 students that introduce them to history, scholarship, activism and mentorship.

Gardner earned her Ph.D. and master’s degree in history from the University of Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Georgetown University.