Hi, I'm Kristin.
With the support of a 2023 Creative Capital 'Wild Futures' award, I am currently at work on a reported memoir and podcast investigating the failure of America’s family court systems to protect our most vulnerable children and caregivers.
I am a Slants Foundation Countering Hate Award winner, an international TED-Ed Innovative Educator, a three-term Washington State Teacher Leader, and a Seattle Mayor's Arts Award nominee. My portrait project “HALF: Biracial + Bicultural” was featured by the New York Times and nominated for a USA Today 'Outstanding Academic & Intellectual Endeavor' award. ROLL CALL, my TED-Ed innovation project, has been used in classrooms around the world to fuel conversation between students and teachers on connection and identity. I was once introduced as "America's Hip Hop Poet" at an Australian music festival. The Boston Globe once called my work "post-feminist." I do not identify as a post-feminist hip hop poet.
Currently, I am an editor with Edutopia and the podcast host of Edutopia Radio. Edutopia is the multimedia K–12 education platform of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. My work has been featured by NPR, McSweeney’s, TED, The Seattle Times, and others. I was previously a producer and editor with Seattle's leading NPR affiliate station, KUOW Public Radio. I recently received my MFA in creative nonfiction writing from the Bennington Writing Seminars. I was deeply honored to be selected by my Bennington peers to deliver our Winter 2026 commencement address.
A first generation scholar and originally from Honolulu, I am currently based in Seattle where I live with my wife, son, two rescue doodles, and 23 houseplants.
I am a Slants Foundation Countering Hate Award winner, an international TED-Ed Innovative Educator, a three-term Washington State Teacher Leader, and a Seattle Mayor's Arts Award nominee. My portrait project “HALF: Biracial + Bicultural” was featured by the New York Times and nominated for a USA Today 'Outstanding Academic & Intellectual Endeavor' award. ROLL CALL, my TED-Ed innovation project, has been used in classrooms around the world to fuel conversation between students and teachers on connection and identity. I was once introduced as "America's Hip Hop Poet" at an Australian music festival. The Boston Globe once called my work "post-feminist." I do not identify as a post-feminist hip hop poet.
Currently, I am an editor with Edutopia and the podcast host of Edutopia Radio. Edutopia is the multimedia K–12 education platform of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. My work has been featured by NPR, McSweeney’s, TED, The Seattle Times, and others. I was previously a producer and editor with Seattle's leading NPR affiliate station, KUOW Public Radio. I recently received my MFA in creative nonfiction writing from the Bennington Writing Seminars. I was deeply honored to be selected by my Bennington peers to deliver our Winter 2026 commencement address.
A first generation scholar and originally from Honolulu, I am currently based in Seattle where I live with my wife, son, two rescue doodles, and 23 houseplants.
EDUCATION
Bennington College - M.F.A., creative nonfiction writing
Antioch University Seattle - M.Ed.
Sarah Lawrence College - B.A.
Bennington College - M.F.A., creative nonfiction writing
Antioch University Seattle - M.Ed.
Sarah Lawrence College - B.A.
WORK
Editor & Podcast Host | George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2025-present
Senior Editor | ParentMap, 2024-25
Instructor | University of Washington, Robinson Center | 2022-24
Producer & Editor | KUOW Public Radio, 2018-22
Program Curator & Artist Residency Manager | Town Hall Seattle, 2017-18
Educator | Bellevue & Highline school districts, 2010-17
Editor & Podcast Host | George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2025-present
Senior Editor | ParentMap, 2024-25
Instructor | University of Washington, Robinson Center | 2022-24
Producer & Editor | KUOW Public Radio, 2018-22
Program Curator & Artist Residency Manager | Town Hall Seattle, 2017-18
Educator | Bellevue & Highline school districts, 2010-17
SELECTED HONORS
Endurance Grant recipient, ArtistTrust, 2024
Creative Capital 'Wild Futures' Fellowship awardee, 2023
Asian American Journalists Association grant recipient, 2023
Multimedia Art Project Grant recipient, 4Culture, 2022
AIR Media New Voices Scholar, 2021
Seattle Mayor's Arts Award nominee, 2020
The Slant's Foundation's Countering Hate Award winner, 2020
Citizen University Fellowship awardee, 2018
Opening speaker, TEDxWWU, 2017
3-term Washington State Teacher Leader, 2014-17
International TED-Ed Innovative Educator, 2016
USA Today 'Outstanding Academic & Intellectual Endeavor Award' nominee, 2003
New York Times' 'Graduate Already in the Drivers' Seat,' 2003
Endurance Grant recipient, ArtistTrust, 2024
Creative Capital 'Wild Futures' Fellowship awardee, 2023
Asian American Journalists Association grant recipient, 2023
Multimedia Art Project Grant recipient, 4Culture, 2022
AIR Media New Voices Scholar, 2021
Seattle Mayor's Arts Award nominee, 2020
The Slant's Foundation's Countering Hate Award winner, 2020
Citizen University Fellowship awardee, 2018
Opening speaker, TEDxWWU, 2017
3-term Washington State Teacher Leader, 2014-17
International TED-Ed Innovative Educator, 2016
USA Today 'Outstanding Academic & Intellectual Endeavor Award' nominee, 2003
New York Times' 'Graduate Already in the Drivers' Seat,' 2003
