Krista Klein, Ph.D. is a lifelong learner, educator, scholar, and mother dedicated to supporting students, faculty, and staff who are navigating major transitions in their personal and professional lives. She currently serves as the Associate Dean of the Honors College at Rutgers-New Brunswick, where she leads a dynamic team focused on equitable college enrollment and first-year transition practices. Krista’s leadership is centered in higher education and includes community engagement, student transitions, training and development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She currently supports the NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) Womxn’s Knowledge Community as the Research and Scholarship Co-Chair, leads university-wide work as part of the Student Success Conference, and serves as the Honors College’s Equity Advisor.
Previously, Krista served in multiple roles at the Honors College across functional areas and served the division of Student Affairs in community service and involvement. She received her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Outside of traditional work experience, Krista frequently advocates for the needs of girls, women, and women professionals. She led one of the first professional presentations focused on returning to work after maternity leave within higher education and recently completed her dissertation centered on undergraduate women’s leadership development during a major life transition. She is also a Girl Scout Troop leader and proud mother to her 6-year-old daughter, Mira.