Kristen is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and serves as Assistant Director of the Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. She is a highly motivated, results-driven professional with more than fifteen years of experience in program planning, development, and leadership across nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Her work spans case management, data analysis, strategic planning, and educational program delivery, with a strong track record of driving operational efficiencies and implementing impactful, data-informed solutions aligned with organizational goals. Kristen’s career is deeply rooted in working alongside American Indian communities.
Kristen has served in advisory and leadership roles at the local and state levels, including as the St. Paul Urban Representative for the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and as a member of the Indian Education Advisory Council for the Arizona Department of Education. She is adept at fostering collaborative relationships, managing complex projects, and leveraging data to support meaningful, community-centered outcomes.
Her academic background reflects a commitment to leadership and education. Kristen holds an MBA with an emphasis in Leadership and Entrepreneurship from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, an MA in K–12 Education with a focus on Indigenous Language Immersion from the University of St. Thomas, and a BA in American Indian Studies with a Dakota Language Track from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. In 2023, she was recognized with the NCAIED 40 Under 40 Award for her leadership and service to American Indian communities.