Paetyn is a first year M.A. student working under Dr. Little and Dr. Childers, studying women during American Western Expansion.

She started her Bachelor’s degree in Kansas at a small school, but transferred to the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs where she finished her degree. She has presented her research at several conferences, including the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial History Convention in Washington D.C. and at the Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum.