Toward the very end of 2017, Alan stumbled upon Kirk's profile on OKCupid and sent him a message. With thoughtful and rich conversations, their messages on that platform (and then others) quickly turned into an endless series of essays that would surpass the word count of what many undergraduates write nowadays.

After several months of communication, Alan and Kirk met for the first time in person on August 8th, 2018, sharing a few days together in both Tabernash and Denver in Colorado. They embarked on and sustained a long-distance relationship but traveled to see each other with increasing frequency and to visit beautiful locations, such as the Grand Canyon and Toronto. Despite their jobs with Iowa State University and the federal Department of Agriculture requiring them to be in separate locations, they managed to find a way. Kirk also taught Brock Purdy, who inspired them with defying the odds.

However, to move forward in their relationship, Kirk pursued other opportunities, culminating in a job with the University of Missouri System that has allowed them to be together and home in Ballwin, Missouri with one another (and with all the deer). The two of them enjoy reading, playing video games, traveling, and attending concerts. Please do not ask how many hours they have played Mario Kart.

In April of 2024, Kirk proposed to Alan where they first met: Colorado, the state where they met, where they became engaged, and where they will soon become married and come to call one another husband. They are excited to next form a family and raise a couple children together.