Cristy Hardin, Ed.D. serves as a Community Organizing Associate at I AM ALS. Cristy has worked in the human resource field and in higher education as a tenured English Professor, as well as serving in numerous leadership roles at Valencia College. Cristy served as the Director of the New Student Experience at Valencia; editor for the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and College in Transitions, E-Source for College Transitions Journal; as well as sitting on numerous editorial review boards for journals focused on the First Year Experience and Advising in higher education. She also worked as a Subject Matter Expert/Writer for LearningMate Solutions, Inc. where she worked on textbook development, college-level course design/editing, and more.

Cristy’s involvement with ALS advocacy is deeply personal, as she became the primary caretaker and support system for her dear friend Kurt during his two-year battle with the disease, until his passing on October 21, 2023. With no prior medical experience, her time with Kurt ignited her passion for raising awareness and providing support to the ALS community, ultimately leading her to join I AM ALS in January 2024 as a volunteer. Cristy is passionate about connecting with people affected by ALS on a personal level to educate, encourage, and provide support.