Kristi began working at St. Olaf in 2015, following the completion of her Master’s degree in Counseling and Student Personnel, with a focus area in College Student Affairs. Kristi’s experience in higher education has included providing career counseling to students and alumni, major exploration, academic advising, supervising student leaders and coordinating Learning Communities. Kristi enjoys coaching students as they clarify and pursue their academic and career goals.
Before her experiences in higher education, Kristi worked for five years in the nonprofit sector. She completed three separate terms of service with AmeriCorps programs: National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) based in Sacramento, California, managing community initiatives and building programs as an AmeriCorps VISTA with United Way of Olmsted County, and recruiting and supporting VISTA members with Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota as a VISTA Leader. After her final year of AmeriCorps, Kristi managed volunteers at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota for two years before deciding to return to school and pursue her Master’s degree.
Kristi completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota, Morris, where she studied Political Science and International Studies. She participated in National Student Exchange, taught English in the Czech Republic and had the opportunity to intern in Washington DC during college. She was also active with student government and enjoyed shifts as a DJ with the campus radio station.
In her free time, Kristi enjoys camping, hiking and gardening. Two of her travel goals are to see every state park in Minnesota (20 visited, over 50 to go) and every state in the United States (over 20 left to visit). Kristi and her partner David live in Minneapolis with their cat, Captain.