Kristen L. Handricken is the founder of Institute Equity, LLC and a nationally recognized leader in organizational learning and development, helping institutions translate values-based commitments into meaningful organizational change. With over 25 years of experience spanning education, public health, government, and human services, she collaborates with organizations to operationalize justice, equity, and inclusion through strategic planning, leadership development, and structural transformation.

Kristen has held senior leadership roles across universities, public health systems, and nonprofit organizations, including serving as Director of Learning and Training in the Office of the Provost at Boston University and Senior Trainer for Health Equity and Racial Justice at the Boston Public Health Commission. In these roles, she led large-scale learning and organizational development initiatives serving tens of thousands of staff, faculty, and students, helping institutions align policies, leadership practices, and workforce systems with their stated equity commitments.

Kristen’s work brings together research, facilitation, and organizational strategy to help institutions navigate complex challenges related to identity, power, and systemic inequity. She is widely respected for her ability to guide organizations through difficult conversations and structural change processes using restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence-based organizational development methods. In addition to her consulting work, Kristen serves as a Research Associate at the Wellesley Centers for Women and contributes to national research initiatives focused on equity in education. She has also served as faculty at several universities and has published research on school climate, youth development, and communication recovery in educational settings