Her Campus: What is your position? How long have you held it? And how did you get it?
Kristi Wallin: I served as State Director to U.S. Senator John Barrasso since June 2007. Before that, I worked for senators in the 1980s in Washington and was active in the Republican Party. My duties as State Director to Senator Barrasso include managing 12 staff at five offices around the state of WY, and be the eyes and ears for Senator Barrasso when he is in Washington. My main role for the state staff is to help people, so when a person has a problem with the government, I help manage this.
HC: Where are you from originally?
KW: Shell, WY in northern Wyoming
HC: How did you end up at UW?
KW: I had family at UW and graduated with a Bachelors in Ag Economics in 1984. After, I went to DC for five years, then returned to UW for a Masters in Counselor Education in 1992. I then worked for the university for 12 years doing fundraising for the Foundation. In 1999, I returned to UW for a Masters of Public Administration.
HC: How did your experience at UW help you get to where you are now?
KW: Oh, everything. What makes UW special is there are so many people who will mentor students with their life plans and careers. Charlotte Davis, the Assistant Dean of Students, helped me to go back for my masters. It was her mentorship that I still rely on today. Connections are important, UW is big enough to be a super university, but small enough to get to know many people.
HC: What is the best advice you can offer a woman going into your field?
KW: The most important piece of advice I have received is, “in every conversation you have with anybody, always ask the question of how they got to where they are, what secrets of life do they have? Build that input from other people, build additional contacts you can build on later on, and find out a different way people are successful and negotiate this life.”
HC: If a current UW student in your field had more questions about your journey to success, would you be open to talking with them? If so, what is the best way for them to reach you?
KW: Absolutely! The best way to reach me would be through email or phone number, and I would be happy to talk about jobs in Wyoming or Washington DC, as well as political campaigns. Kristi Wallin; (307) 772-2451; Kristi_Wallin@Barrasso.senate.gov
HC: Anything else?
KW: Go to class. Show up. Take advantage of all the things the university has to offer. Make the experience even better.
“I help with animal rescues on my time off; this photo was taken when we transported dogs from a kill shelter in Texas to the St. Francis shelter in Buffalo, Wyoming.”