Kierstin Fiscus (gt6459)

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Washington State University - 2009
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Eastern Michigan University - 2019
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Wayne State University - in progress

Work Hours: 7:30-3:30 ET

Kierstin Fiscus currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Dean at the College of Education, Wayne State University, a role she has held since 2021. Before joining the College of Education, she worked in the College of Engineering at Wayne State University as an assistant to associate deans. Her career at Wayne State began in 2018. Prior to her tenure at Wayne State, Kierstin worked at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she held positions as Manager, Program Coordinator, and Executive Secretary.

Kierstin is an outgoing, equity-minded executive-level administrator with over a decade of experience in higher education. Before transitioning to academia, she worked as a Senior Legal Assistant for the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office in Boise, Idaho.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Washington State University in 2009 and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration from Eastern Michigan University in 2019. Kierstin is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University, with an expected graduation date of May 2025.

Kierstin's research focuses on rural education, with a particular emphasis on how rural secondary schools prepare students for higher education. Specifically, she investigates the differences in postsecondary institutions chosen by rural students who participate in dual enrollment programs compared to those who do not. Additionally, she explores how participation in dual enrollment affects persistence in higher education among rural students. After completing her doctorate, Kierstin plans to pursue a law degree with the goal of working in education law and policy.