Kristen Renn is University Distinguished Professor and Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education (HALE) in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University. From 2021 to 2014 she served as Mildred B. Erickson Distinguished Chair in HALE. She teaches courses related to student development, diversity and equity, and education research in the Student Affairs Administration MA program and the HALE MA and PhD programs. From 2013 to 2024 she also served as Associate Dean and Senior Advisor Senior Advisor to the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education. Prior to coming to MSU, she was assistant professor of higher education and qualitative research at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a policy analyst for the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, and, for ten years, a dean in the Office of Student Life at Brown University. A Mount Holyoke College alumna, she received her PhD in Higher Education from Boston College. Kris Renn Kristen Renn
Dr. Renn’s research interests include student success and persistence, identity and identity development in higher education, mixed race college students, women in higher education in the US and global contexts, and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) issues in higher education. A grant from the Spencer Foundation supported her international study of women’s colleges and universities. She was MSU’s inaugural liaison to the University Innovation Alliance and has been co-PI on several grants related to increasing success for low-income and underrepresented students. Dr. Renn is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She has won multiple awards for her research, including the Contribution to Knowledge Award from ACPA-College Student Educators International, AERA Division J Exemplary Research Award, and two additional AERA awards for research on gender and sexuality. In 2024 she was recognized with the Mentoring Award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). Dr. Renn has been Associate Editor for International Research and Scholarship for the Journal of College Student Development, a Senior Scholar of ACPA-College Student Educators International, a member of the governing boards of ACPA and ASHE, and chair of the AERA standing committee Scholars and Advocates for Gender Equity. In 2024 she won the Michigan State University William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award for her research, teaching, and academic leadership. Kris Renn Kristen Renn