Kristen grew up in Catonsville, Maryland and attended Boston College where she met her husband, Matt, in the marching band. In 2004 Kristen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then completed her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College with a specialization in medical social work (2005).
After graduation, Kristen completed a fellowship with Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital in Pediatric Palliative Care. Kristen spent 10 years working with chronically and terminally ill children and their families. She has worked in in-patient acute care settings, hospice, and outpatient mental health clinics. In this humbling work Kristen gained extensive knowledge and expertise in supporting children and families in crisis and in providing grief therapy.
After becoming a mother Kristen focused most of her attention at home on her four kids while also staying active in the field of Social Work by teaching continuing education courses to other social workers. Kristen has spoken at local and National conferences on topics related to supporting children and families facing the death or illness of a loved one.
In 2016, Kristen was feeling dismayed by the discord and negativity she saw taking over her community and Country, and she decided to do something about it. Kristen knew whatever she did needed to include her children, as she wanted to help them understand that when you see a problem in the world, you don't just sit back and worry. Instead, you roll up your sleeves and get to work. And so, on November 9, 2016, Kristen and her children set out to spread kindness as far and wide as they could. Their individual efforts in spreading kindness soon grew to become a group of like-minded community members all seeking to spread kindness. The group was called Crofton Is Kind, named for the community Kristen and and her husband Matt have called home since 2006.
Soon, Crofton is Kind grew, and individuals and organizations started seeing the good work Kristen's family was doing and wanted to donate to their efforts. As such, Kristen decided to start a non-profit foundation to continue her mission of fostering kindness in children and spreading kindness in the community. And thus, Kindness Grows Here, Inc. was born.
Kristen led Kindness Grows here for 10 years, establishing it as a financially sound organization with a meaningful impact across the United States. In 2026 Kristen moved into the role of President Emeritus to spend more time with her four kids and her husband, Matt. Kristen continues to impact her community by volunteering with her children on the causes that are important to them as well as by coaching youth basketball and volunteering at her kids’ schools. Kristen will always remain a supporter of Kindness Grows Here and the good work it continues to do.
