Originally from Westminster in Orange County, California, Kirby has published two books, The Dog Runs On and The Thumbelina Poems. She's interested in the juxtaposition between the human and natural worlds, including science and folklore. She's teaching humanities courses, especially in science and literature, and looks forward to teaching a medical humanities course as well.

Kirby teaches Humanities-based courses in the Honors Program. In 2013 and 2016 she received an Individual Artist Fellowship from the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Her work, both poetry and creative nonfiction, has been published in several journals, print and online. She also writes texts for composers, including the libretto for composer Christopher Gable's operas The Ascension of Radegunde and The Ladysmith Story, and for composer James Callahan's opera Sanctuary. She has also been a technical writer, freelance editor, marketing communications manager, and writing coach.