She is the main author of the book Finding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area. Cris has worked as a contract botanist for the Virginia Division of Natural Heritage and the Maryland Natural Heritage Program. She leads many wildflower, fern and tree programs, and walks for theAudubon Naturalist Society, the Maryland Native Plant Society, and the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Cris was awarded the Bartsch Award for distinguished contributions to natural history from the Audubon Naturalist Society in March, 2016. This prestigious honor has not been granted since 2002.