Kristen Martin is a Master of Public Administration student in her final semester and is specializing in Higher Education, Local Government, and Public Policy. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in International Affairs, Criminal Justice Studies, and Theatre. She further strengthened her professional foundation by completing the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Professional Skills Development Program in Fall 2024. In 2025, she expanded her global perspective through a study abroad program with the UGA School of Law in Belgium and the Netherlands, where she earned academic credit exploring global governance.
Kristen currently serves as an intern with the Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp, where she supports statewide technical education initiatives, analyzes data for the Technical College System of Georgia, and contributes to leadership conferences and public private partnership efforts. She also has worked for the past two years as the Career Services and Recruitment Graduate Assistant for UGA’s Department of Public Administration and Policy, managing accreditation data, helping with professional development events, and coordinating recruitment presentations for the MPA program. Her leadership extends across campus as President of Georgia Students for Public Administration and the 2026-2027 President of UGA’s Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration.
Recognized for her service and leadership, Kristen was named a 2026 University of Georgia Top 100 Student Employee of the Year and was the 2026 recipient of PADP’s Spirit of Public Service Award. With a strong foundation in education policy, community engagement, and state level program administration, she hopes to build a career in Georgia state government contributing to education policy that expands opportunity and strengthens public institutions.
