Kristopher is the Community-Engaged Learning Coordinator at CCEL. He received his Bachelor of Individualized Studies from the University of Minnesota, focusing on Gender, Race, Class, Sexuality and Power. As an undergraduate Kristopher was the first student staff hired by Director Laurel Hirt to create a student-run community-engaged learning program, working closely with Laurel to develop a wide range of community partnerships for students to become involved with, many of which still partner with CCEL over 25 years later.
Returning to what is now the Center for Community-Engaged Learning after nearly 25 years was an exciting full circle experience for Kristopher. Since leaving he has worked in both the private and public sectors, spending several years managing large-scale projects for the federal government and taking on a number of roles with non-profits and educational institutions, including working for several of CCEL’s community partner organizations. These experiences allowed Kristopher to live in several U.S. cities and provided opportunities to learn from a number of global adventures.
Kristopher spent most of his life growing up in rural South Dakota on Native lands within the Lake Traverse Reservation as an ally prior to coming to the University. The transition wasn’t easy and required Kristopher to critically examine the meanings of equity, inclusion and diversity in his own life and how to best apply that knowledge in professional decisions moving forward.
Today, Kristopher calls the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul home where he enjoys working in his yard, spending time with his neighbors and answering to an opinionated cat. He continues to learn from traveling and exploring his family history.
