Kirbey is from Grand Haven, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State Universities James Madison College in 2023 with a double major in International Relations and Comparative Cultures and Politics and a minor in European Studies. Her undergraduate time focused on researching topics such as environmental injustice, economic class and identity, and international energy policy. Through studies, internships, and different experiences witnessing the effects of climate change, she chose the MS-ESM program in order to work with companies to combat climate change.