English instructor Kristi Yorks has always been drawn to stories. Not just reading them, but understanding what they make possible. Growing up in Elyria, Ohio, books quickly became something more than a pastime. They opened doors to new ideas, new perspectives, and new ways of imagining the future.
At a flea market across the street from her home, she would gather books, five for a penny, and read anything she could find. Through those pages, she discovered something powerful. Other ways of being. Other futures. Other possibilities.
That experience stayed with her and continues to shape her work today.
Where Writing Begins
For Kristi, writing is not about rules, structure, or correctness. It is about thinking. As she describes in her research, writing is the active embodiment and expression…of thinking itself.
It is not just how we communicate what we know. It is how we come to know anything at all. That belief sits at the center of everything she does.
Her work focuses on writing as a tool for empowerment, helping people discover, develop, and use their voice in meaningful ways. Especially in a time shaped by rapid technological change and the rise of AI, she explores how individuals can maintain authorship over their own stories.
Because if we do not tell our stories, someone else will—and they may get them wrong.
A Path Shaped by Possibility
Kristi's relationship with writing has never been abstract. It has always been personal and practical.
Writing was the tool that carried her beyond the limits of her environment. Through applications, scholarships, and academic opportunities, it became the bridge between where she started and where she could go.
From a small town in Ohio to graduate school, international travel, and a career in higher education, writing created movement. It made possibility real.
That perspective shapes how she teaches today. She does not present writing as an assignment. She presents it as a tool students can use to help build their own futures.
Teaching Beyond the Assignment
In Kristi's classroom, writing is not about checking boxes. It is about curiosity, exploration, and connection. Her teaching asks an important question. How do we create learning environments where both students and teachers can move beyond rigid systems and truly engage with ideas?
She emphasizes balance, combining structure that supports learning with enough freedom to allow individuality, voice, and human connection to emerge. By focusing on writing as a process of thinking, she encourages students to ask deeper questions, explore ideas from multiple perspectives, and build confidence in their own voice.
At its core, her teaching reflects a simple belief: writing matters because people do.
Life in Motion
Outside the classroom, Kristi's interests reflect the same mindset she brings to her work.
She is drawn to activities that require patience, persistence, and a willingness to embrace challenge, including crocheting, playing piano, and ultra running.
Ultra running, in particular, reflects her philosophy. She is quick to point out that she is not naturally good at it, and that is exactly why she loves it. It is not about speed or performance. It is about endurance, curiosity, and continuing forward.
Whether running through mountain trails or working through complex ideas though, the lesson is the same—growth takes time, progress is not always linear, and meaning often comes from continuing, even when it is difficult.
What This Means for Students
Learning from faculty like Kristi Yorks is about more than completing assignments. It is about developing the ability to think more deeply about ideas, communicate with clarity and confidence, and approach challenges with curiosity and persistence. Because writing is not just a skill. It is a way of understanding the world and your place in it.
Study with faculty who encourage you to find your voice, explore your ideas, and turn possibility into something meaningful as you pursue your degree. Apply today!
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