Kristen Hecht joined UNA-USA in 2009 and has been an active member of the National Capital Area chapter (UNA-NCA) ever since. She currently serves as co-chair of UNA-NCA’s Membership Committee and is a Mid-East Regional Representative on the National Council of UNA-USA. She has also chaired UNA-NCA’s Nominating Committee in 2021 and 2022, volunteered for the Graduate Fellows Program, and was a member of the DC for CEDAW committee. A highlight of her membership journey was serving as delegate to the sixty-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations and participating in post-CSW speaking engagements on behalf of the organization. Kristen possesses 15+ years of experience working in the social sector, including holding roles at non-profit organizations, foundations, associations, and academic institutions. Her background is in leadership development, program design and management, and equity-centered work. She is currently consulting for Columbia World Projects at Columbia University. In this role, she supports the design and implementation of its Social Impact Fellowship, a year-long fellowship program inspired by the Obama Foundation Scholars Program and designed for undergraduate and graduate students who aspire to use their talents to help solve complex global challenges. Kristen is trained in Dare to Lead™ (Brené Brown’s leadership curriculum), adaptive leadership (New York University), trauma-informed and resilient leadership (Center for Justice and Peacebuilding), diversity, equity, and inclusion practices (Nonprofit Leadership Alliance), and professional coaching (Co-Active Training Institute, internationally recognized as the most rigorous professional coach training program in the industry). Kristen graduated from American University with a Master of Arts in international politics and holds a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of North Texas.
Vision Statement:
Kristen's vision for UNA-NCA is a membership that is diverse, inclusive, and engaged. As a member of UNA-NCA’s Board of Directors, Kristen will actively work to ensure UNA-NCA recruits members from all backgrounds, that members are welcomed and informed of the many program activities that UNA-NCA offers, and that members are engaged in the mission of the organization.
