UNC Greensboro (UNCG) has selected Dr. Kristen T. Christman as the next director of the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, a 25-year-old interdisciplinary research, evaluation, and training center with $6.8 million in annual external funding to address pressing social concerns impacting families, children, and young adults across North Carolina.
Christman, who has over 20 years of experience in program creation, development, grant writing, and community outreach, has been instrumental in securing grant funding and significant planned gifts exceeding $3.2 million throughout her career at UNCG. Part of that work was developing and serving as director for UNCG’s flagship student success program Guarantee Scholars, a college access program recognized by The Education Trust.
As a part of the UNCG Department of Communication Studies – with additional affiliations in UNCG’s Gerontology Program and the Lloyd International Honors College – Christman is an accomplished educator and dedicated advocate for student success, who has combined a strong academic foundation with practical experience to drive positive change in the educational landscape.
The North Carolina native previously served as scholarship director for Say Yes to Education Guilford, which gave every eligible public high school graduate in the county access to college and postsecondary scholarships.
Christman holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies and an M.A. in Communication Studies, and her teaching, research, and service focus on positive communication, pedagogy, and community engagement. In 2022 she co-founded the Positive Communication Network, a national community of scholars, practitioners, and students committed to the study and practice of positive human communication.
