Koelbel - 208J
Biography
As the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Kristi is responsible for the advancement, quality, vibrancy and continuation of graduate programs at the Leeds School of Business, with oversight of recruitment, retention, graduation, and placement of nearly 500 graduate students, annually. Prior to joining Graduate Programs, Kristi served in the Office of Diversity Affairs as the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and Director of the Office of Diversity Affairs. In these roles, Kristi created programs to support underrepresented students including the Diverse Scholar's Research Initiative and the Diversity and Business Ethics Case Competition. Kristi has also instituted academic tutoring, academic boot camps, implemented a faculty-led mentoring program for Diverse Scholars Program students and increased corporate engagement. In 2017 Kristi created End the Gap gender-equity programs to support the school-wide initiative to increase diversity and gender parity. In addition to these student-focused efforts, Kristi has been instrumental in increasing faculty diversity by working with division chairs and search committees, creating the dual career hiring program, and supporting similar efforts at central campus. In 2020 the YWCA in Boulder County honored Kristi with the Community Impact Maker Award. The award recognizes a community leader committed to creating a "more equitable, inclusive and empowering place for all who live in Boulder County." Prior to joining Leeds, Kristi served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Initiatives at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. At UMKC, she created and implemented speaker programs that brought diverse speakers and perspectives to the campus and provided diversity training for UMKC offices and departments. She also developed fundraising programs for UMKC Pride Empowerment Scholarships and in spring 2009, she received the prestigious Outstanding Staff Award from the LGBT office at UMKC for her work to support Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender students, staff and faculty. In 2013, Kristi received the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Ace Award for her work in diversity. Kristi holds a M.Ed. in Education, Culture and Society from the University of Utah.