Kristen was born and raised in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and spent her childhood participating in many extracurricular activities which included Girl Scouts, numerous sports, church youth group and interpreting for the deaf through sign language. She attended, volunteered at and worked for Stevens Ranch Girl Scout Camp for a total of 18 years. Kristen’s passion for marine conservation and marine mammal research was discovered when her parents surprised her with a trip to the Georgia Aquarium for a Beluga Whale encounter on her 16th birthday.
Kristen graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in the spring of 2018 with her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. Some of her favorite activities in college consisted of serving as Vice President of the Sisterhood of University Leaders, participating in Traditions Council and volunteering for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
After graduating college, Kristen worked with the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as a part of the marine mammal rescue and research team. She had the opportunity to rescue, release and research a large variety of dolphins, whales, porpoises and seals. Kristen has worked with stingrays and sharks at the AZA accredited Fort Worth Zoo as an Aquatic Animal Care Specialist, as well as at the AZA accredited South Carolina Aquarium in the Sea Turtle Care Center where she worked tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate and release critically endangered sea turtles. While in South Carolina, she volunteered with the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Services where she assisted with sea turtle nesting conservation and documentation. Kristen’s heart pulled her home to Texas where she worked as a Stranding Technician for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network and had the immense honor of assisting in the rehabilitation of a stranded Bottlenose Dolphin calf named Trooper.
Some of Kristen’s favorite memories include doing mission work in Tanzania, Africa, snorkeling La Jolla Cove and whale watching around the country. She was excited to join the team at Artist Boat and share the wonders of the Galveston beaches, wetlands and bay with people of all ages.