With over 20 years of experience in older adult housing, services, and long-term care management, Kirsten credits her late grandparents for her commitment to the field. Her undergraduate thesis project, dedicated to sharing art with older adults, set the stage for an ongoing interest in dementia and holistic wellbeing. Kirsten has held various positions, including administrator and executive director.
Currently, Kirsten serves on the knowledge team at LeadingAge, a national association of elder-serving organizations. As Vice President, Shared Learning Initiatives, Kirsten leads and manages the organization’s wellness and dementia education strategy and other shared learning activities. Kirsten also guides a diverse set of education initiatives to advance LeadingAge’s ageism work and strategic focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and board governance.
Having served on various nonprofit boards, Kirsten is currently a director on the RoseVilla Senior Living board.
Kirsten earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and gerontology certificate from Portland State University (Portland, OR) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in arts administration and a minor in studio art from Scripps College (Claremont, CA). She lives in her hometown of Portland, OR with her spouse, two kids, and goofy dog.