She is a former teacher and school counselor. She was named the Illinois Middle School Counselor of the Year by the Illinois School Counselor Association in 2010. From 2011 to 2013 she was an editorial board member of the Journal of Counseling in Illinois. Dr. Kirkpatrick Pinson is the current President of the Illinois Association for Adult Development and Aging and is the Treasurer and board member for the Illinois Counseling Association Foundation.