Hello there! I’m Kiandra, an aspiring wildlife biologist and childrens book writer with a heart fueled by curiosity for life on Earth. Oh – and this is my dog, Bruno. 

I grew up moving around a lot, though a majority of my childhood was centered around New York, Massachusetts, and Cyprus. I spent most of my year in the United States with my mother, minus a month or two of the summers that I would spend with my father in Cyprus. Summers on the island of Cyprus were pivotal in my life, being able to explore cultural dichotomies from a young age. Venturing solo from the age of twelve, I embraced the independence and empowerment that solo travel gave me. These early experiences cultivated a deep receptiveness to the world and an appreciation for the power of friendships. It also, fortunately or unfortunately, infected me with a severe case of the “travel bug.” 

One too many dreary winters in Upstate New York led me to pursuing my bachelors of science in Zoology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. I quickly fell into the rich outdoorsy culture in Santa Barbara, immersing myself in surfing, rock climbing, and backpacking. I also spent one year of my undergraduate studying biochemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where I reveled in the joy of teaching kids how to ski as a ski instructor at Eldora Mountain Resort. Aside from surfing, climbing, hiking, and skiing, I also enjoy scuba and freediving. In short, I’ll take any excuse I can get to get outside and connect with nature. As such, I quickly found myself at home among the epic nature of the West Coast, and among those who revel in it.

My journey in ecological sciences has been an intricate balance between flora and fauna. Some highlights include seal and sea lion rehabilitation at the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute and an independent research project analyzing the impacts of elevation and warming temperatures on the flowering date of a California mountain flower at the University of California, Santa Barbara. My professional and educational experiences have armed me with expertise in field observation techniques including plant and animal identification, animal behavior, and GPS navigation. As I continue to explore and contribute to the field, my passion for ecological conservation remains at the core of my professional identity.

While my educational background lies in zoology, literature has always been an inseparable part of my life. Both reading and writing have served as teachers and guides in my life, helping me process and understand life. I aspire to use literature to help guide children to fall in love with nature and cultivate a sense of curiosity for the world. Much of the literary work that I produce has an ecological basis along with the themes of the power of kindness and friendship.