ɪn ɐdˈɪʃən tə tˈiːtʃɪŋ nˌɑːnfˈɪkʃən ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv mɑːntˈænə, kˈɜːn wʌzðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt zˈiəɹoʊ nˈaɪn vˈɛɹ nˌɑːnfˈɪkʃən ɹˈaɪɾɚɹ ɪn ɹˈɛzᵻdəns æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ʃᵻkˈɑːɡoʊ.
In addition to teaching nonfiction writing at the University of Montana, Kirn was the 2008–09 Vare Nonfiction Writer in Residence at the University of Chicago.