Kim graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from Northern Arizona University and is a Society of American Foresters Certified Forester. In 2005, Kim earned a master’s degree in Engineering in Geographic Information Systems from the University of Colorado – Denver.

She has held seasonal forestry positions with the US Army Corps of Engineers at Mark Twain Lake near Hannibal, Missouri and the USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Payson Ranger District in Arizona. For nearly five years in the late 1980′s she was a specialist in the Gypsy Moth Program for Prince William County, Virginia, and worked 15 years (1993-2008) for New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Forestry Division as a district Timber Management Officer (6 years), GIS Specialist (7 years) and State Timber Management Officer (2 years) managing the programs of commercial timber harvest requirements, grant programs from the US Forest Service in Forest Health, Forest Stewardship, Forest Lands Enhancement Program, Invasive Weeds, and supervised staff managers of the Urban and Community Forestry, Tree Improvement Program, Conservation Seedlings Program and the Forest Entomologist.

Kim has held Wildland Firefighting Red Card qualifications of firefighter, engine operator, engine boss, field observer, geographic information systems specialist (GISS), and infrared interpreter (IRIN). Upon leaving NM State Forestry employment she chose to not continue the line qualifications, but is still active with GISS and IRIN. Mixed in with the timber and fire tasks over the years was the use of Trimble and Garmin GPS units in data gathering for management plans or fire suppression activities.