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A Storyteller with a Purpose: Kjrsten Colleen Schindler

The College of Liberal Arts is proud to recognize Kjrsten Colleen Schindler as the 2024–2025 Outstanding Student in the Department of Theatre and Film. With a double degree in psychology and film and performing arts (film concentration), and four minors—creative writing, justice, theater, and music vocal performance—Schindler’s academic portfolio is as vast and vibrant as her imagination.

A sixth-year student graduating this May and preparing for graduate school in clinical counseling, Schindler’s journey has been anything but conventional. What connects her diverse fields of study is her enduring desire to help others and tell stories that matter. “I’ve always said, I don’t care what I do as long as I can help one person,” she said. “Even if it’s just one person I can help, I’m going to help that person to the best of my abilities.”

A pivotal moment came in 2021, when Schindler was still pursuing a degree in biology with dreams of becoming a veterinarian. After the passing of her father, a period of reflection and exploration followed. That summer, she enrolled in classes at Utah State University—her first film, her first piano—and shadowed a veterinarian she admired growing up. But the experience shifted her perspective. “I loved it,” she recalled, “but I was also like—I don’t know if I want to do this for the rest of my life.” Her father had made a similar realization decades before her. In that moment of grief and growth, a new path began to take shape.

She returned to 911���� and enrolled in her first acting and psychology courses. “I absolutely fell in love with acting and with psychology,” she said. “That’s how I got to where I am now.” These disciplines are not separate, but intertwined—tools for storytelling, connection, and healing.

Support has played a crucial role in Schindler’s academic success. “At the top of the list would be my mother,” she said. Living just two and a half hours away in Delta Junction, Schindler’s mom regularly drives to Fairbanks to attend her performances and support her friends’ work as well. “She’s basically like everyone’s mom here in the theatre department.” And when Kjrsten needs a second set of eyes on a grad school essay or even a work email, her mom is always the one she calls.

She also credits the Department of Theatre and Film faculty with helping her feel embraced. “They’re always in my corner,” she said. “They’re just super supportive, and I love them so much.”

That support has been crucial. Schindler has carried up to 21 credits per semester, held jobs on campus—including at KSUA student radio—and stayed active in performance, film, and writing projects. Her advice for future students? “Try everything at least once,” she said. “Be willing to get out of your comfort zone. Surround yourself with people who build your self-esteem, not people who tear it down.”

Schindler’s goal is to bring all her experiences together to support others. “Not one type of therapy works for everyone,” she explained. “Someone might want to act through their trauma, or write, or sing. Everything I do—psychology, acting, writing, music—it all relates back to helping people.”

Eventually, Schindler hopes to become a lawyer too, bringing her knowledge of justice, communication, and advocacy into a courtroom setting. “In the courtroom, all you’re doing is pretty much acting,” she said with a smile. “And with psychology, you have to know your audience. It all connects.”

In both life and learning, Schindler embodies the liberal arts ethos: multidisciplinary, resilient, and rooted in empathy. The College of Liberal Arts is honored to recognize her as one of its most outstanding students.