The VISTA Project

Serving at her alma mater, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU), Kristina managed and expanded the York Road Education and Service (YES) Program. The project was built to foster deep community-engaged learning and support academic enrichment for local Baltimore youth.

The Challenge
Historically, the YES Program functioned primarily as a traditional tutoring service. After an extended pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program needed to be restarted, expanded to broader academic areas of campus, and structured to scale up low volunteer numbers.

The Solution
Kristina pivoted the program to engage multiple diverse departments across the NDMU campus—including nursing, pharmacy, and athletics. She recruited heavily across the student body, successfully scaling the volunteer base from just 11 students to nearly 60 active volunteers.

The Legacy
Through her efforts, the YES Program was successfully institutionalized with a strong leadership board to ensure its long-term continuity. Her exceptional dedication to civic involvement earned her the prestigious Global Citizenship Award from Transform Mid-Atlantic in 2024.

Life After VISTA

Following her service year, Kristina transitioned to Johns Hopkins University. In her current role with the Government, Community, and Economic Partnerships department, she continues her passion for civic engagement, helping to coordinate and drive key initiatives that foster economic, social, and academic partnerships across the Baltimore region.