Kristina Davis

Dr. Kristina Kay Davis was born on April 17, 1989, in Des Moines, Iowa, and passed away on July 15, 2026, as the result of a tragic car accident just outside of Boulder, Colorado.

At the age of six, Kristina moved with her family to Littleton, Colorado, where she developed a lifelong love of skiing. Kristina graduated from Chatfield High School as one of the school's co-valedictorians before

earning a bachelor's degree in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado. She received her doctorate in Exploration Systems Design from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Kristina embraced life with boundless curiosity, determination, and adventure. One of her proudest accomplishments was hiking the entire Colorado Trail. Her passion for exploration took her to all seven continents where she created unforgettable memories. She rode motorcycles through Morocco and Peru, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, rode a camel beside the Great Pyramids of Egypt, witnessed the Northern Lights in Alaska, climbed numerous Colorado fourteeners, walked a segment of the Great Wall of China, helped build homes in Mexico, and traveled to countless destinations around the world.

She participated in two separate field experiments at McMurdo Station in Antarctica where she not only conducted scientific research but also embraced the unique experiences of cross-country skiing, a polar plunge, and, most importantly, meeting her life partner, Garrett.

Kristina fulfilled her dream of becoming a research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in Boulder, Colorado. Her academic and professional work spanned astronomy, astrophysics, and the complex fields of aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Throughout her career, she presented her research at conferences around the world and authored or co-authored several papers published in respected scientific journals. Most recently, her leadership in developing LASP's glove recycling initiative helped earn the LASP Sustainability Group the 2026 CU Green Labs Award.

Giving back to others was just as important to Kristina as her scientific achievements. She volunteered at local schools, inspiring students with her math and science presentations. Kristina also spoke at numerous “Girls in STEM” events, inspiring young women to pursue careers in science and engineering. Currently she volunteered with Open Space Mountain Park to monitor bat populations west of Boulder.

Kristina is survived by her life partner, Garrett Collier; her parents, Thane and Valerie Davis; her sister, Meredith Davis; her brother, Alex Davis; and her cherished dog, Boulder Terrell Davis.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr, Boulder, CO 80309, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10am - noon. An open gathering will be held afterwards at Pattern Break Brewing, 3550 Frontier Ave, Ste a, Boulder, Colorado.

Although her time with us was far too short, Kristina's extraordinary intelligence, adventurous spirit, generous heart, and unwavering determination touched countless lives. Her legacy will live on through the people she inspired, the scientific contributions she made, and the love she shared with family and friends. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.