Kris has worked on social justice issues related to diversity, equal opportunity and affirmative action for over 35 years. She has experience as a civil rights litigator and has worked on social justice issues in corporate environments, with non-profit organizations and governmental agencies, and with numerous educational institutions. She was previously a partner in the national law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi and the worldwide Director of Diversity and Equal Opportunity for Northwest Airlines. 

Kris enjoyed a second career in higher education, first in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and later as the Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity. In that position, she oversaw the operation of units within the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity. She developed and implemented the University’s system-wide Equity and Diversity Vision Framework.

Kris’s legal and administrative practice has included addressing barriers to and discrimination against those in BIPOC, disability and LGBTQ+ communities. She has worked on behalf of collegiate student-athletes and coaches on gender equity salary disputes, sexual harassment, homophobia and heterosexism. For decades, Kris has focused on learning to identify, educate about and address actions based on race and other marginalized identities. She continues this work as called upon in ad hoc situations and teaches how to be an effective social justice activist.

Kris received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota and completed a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.