Kristin Brand

Kristin Brand has a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, particularly in the field of youth mentorship. Kristin began their career at L.E.A.P., where they served as a Senior Counselor and created a literacy-focused curriculum for inner city schools. After that, they worked as a Behavioral Therapist at Boys & Girls Harbor.

In 2003, Kristin joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC and held various roles, including Senior Program Manager, Assistant Deputy Director, Deputy Director, and Director. In these positions, they managed and expanded mentoring programs, developed standard operating procedures, and secured a $4.5 million federally funded contract.

Kristin'smost recent role at Big Brothers Big Sisters was as Vice President, Community Programs. In this senior leadership position, they oversaw the day-to-day operations of 7 specialized citywide mentoring programs, managed a budget and a team of 25 employees, and spearheaded strategic programs to serve thousands of volunteers, youth, and parents. Kristin also played a key role in building communications and partnership plans, managing the grant cycle process, and responding to external funding requests.

Throughout their career, Kristin has demonstrated a strong ability to build teams, improve operational efficiency, and achieve measurable outcomes. Kristin has also been recognized for their crisis management skills and their expertise in compliance and funding reporting.

Kristin Brand obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Sociology from Quinnipiac University, where they studied from 1997 to 2001. Kristin later pursued a Masters Degree in Social Work at Columbia University, attending from 2001 to 2003. In addition to their formal education, Kristin obtained certifications such as being a member of the National Association of Social Workers and completing the Identification & Reporting of Child Abuse & Maltreatment training offered by the New York State Education Department. Kristin also has a pending New Jersey School Social Worker Standard Certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education.