Joe Kinzer

Biography

Joe Kinzer is a faculty member at Utah State University, serving as the Community & Oral History Archivist and Curator of the Fife Folklore Archives. With a background in ethnomusicology, he explores folklore and broader cultural expression, including music, oral traditions, and everyday narratives. He teaches Oral History and Fieldwork in both the History and English Departments, working closely with the university’s Folklore Program. His work blends librarianship, research, and service, curating collections and leading oral history projects in the Intermountain West. His efforts also extend to global comparative traditions, linking regional practices—such as cowboy and ranching culture—to broader traditions of herding and storytelling around the world.