She is originally from Baltimore where she obtained her Masters of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and worked in the Trauma Recovery Programs at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center for five years. She later earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia, and has been working higher education since 2002. She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Kirsten was on staff in Counseling and Psychological Services at UCSB from 2009-2014, with her last two years as Assistant Clinical Director. She then served as Director of Counseling & Disability Services at CSU Channel Islands for two years and subsequently returned to UCSB in her current position in Human Resources in 2017. She also holds a Certificate in Threat Management.