University of Oregon
Kiersten Muenchinger is a Professor and Founding Head of the Department of Product Design at the University of Oregon, where employment has spanned from September 2008 to the present. Muenchinger also serves as a Board Member for the Willamalane Park and Recreation District, having been elected to represent Springfield's interests. Previous academic roles include Associate Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Fulbright Scholar and teaching sustainable manufacturing, as well as Associate Chair of Industrial Design at the California College of the Arts. Muenchinger's entrepreneurial experience includes founding and presiding over Parapluie, a stationery company. Early career highlights feature design engineering positions at Fitch, Sottsass Associati, and IDEO. Muenchinger earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Product Design from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Dartmouth College.