Kristian Dawson (She/Her) is a motivator, teacher, and advocate for healthy and meaningful communities in higher education. She is dedicated to advancing the fields of higher education admissions & advising within a DEIBJ framework, and advocates for workplace cultures that build a sense of pride, trust, and community for all groups within their organization.
Kristian is currently the Assistant Director for Outreach & Culture for the College of Environmental Design, and has been a staff member on the Berkeley campus since 2015. Kristian also serves as the Communications Chair and Co-Vice Chair for the Black Staff & Faculty Organization and attributes much of her professional mentorship, advancement, and community building to the awesome Black staff, faculty, students, and allies she has engaged with throughout her years on campus.
Kristian earned her BA in Literary Journalism from the University of California, Irvine; Certificate in Student Affairs and Higher-Education AdministrationCertificate from UC Berkeley, Extension; and is earning her MA in Organization & Leadership at the University of San Francisco.
Kristian is a Los Angeles native, and brings her family’s values of faith, joy, and service to others with her into her professional and personal spaces. Kristian uses her personal time to support folx in her community with admissions and academic advice, volunteer with local K-5 enrichment programs, and serve as an investor, board member, and consultant for her family’s small business.
SESSION:
Still Here and Thriving: BIPOC Reflections on Growing Into Mid-Level Roles
