A seventh-generation Stocktonian, Kristen Birtwhistle has dedicated her career to advancing health, education and opportunity in the Central Valley. As president and CEO of United Way of San Joaquin County, she has led record-setting fundraising campaigns and forged transformative partnerships that expand access to resources and economic mobility.
Before her nonprofit tenure, Birtwhistle spent three decades in senior leadership at Kaiser Permanente, where she launched provider networks in Stanislaus County and fostered partnerships with local universities including Stan State, through initiatives such as Kaiser’s School of Allied Health Sciences.
“I was inspired to join the Stan State Foundation Board because I’ve seen firsthand how the University transforms lives — especially for first-generation and underrepresented students in our region,” Birtwhistle said. “As the CEO of United Way, I’m deeply committed to creating pathways to opportunity, and Stan State plays a central role in doing that. Joining the board felt like a natural extension of our shared mission to uplift individuals and strengthen the Central Valley community.”
She continues to champion partnerships between education and community service through initiatives such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the Stockton Campus — giving students real-world experience while serving families in the region. In 2024 alone, the Stockton VITA site prepared 433 returns and returned $955,375 to local taxpayers.
“No single organization can tackle the challenges our community faces alone,” she said. “United Way and Stan State both work to close opportunity gaps and remove barriers to success — just from different angles. By collaborating, we can connect resources, expertise and networks to create a stronger, more equitable foundation for students and families.”
That collaboration is reflected in multiple joint initiatives — from Basic Needs and community resource programs that help students stay enrolled to volunteer engagement and service-learning projects that connect coursework with community impact.
“Those efforts truly reflect what it means to belong — and to lift one another up,” Birtwhistle said.
She also co-founded The Eleanor Project, a mentorship network for women leaders and has earned multiple honors for service and leadership.
Looking forward, Birtwhistle said she envisions even more opportunities to align United Way’s mission with Stan State’s focus on student success and community well-being — expanding financial stability programs, early education partnerships and mentorship opportunities that strengthen lives across the Valley.
“I’m proud of how the CSU’s investment in the Stockton Campus continues to expand opportunity,” she added. “It’s my hope that through the Foundation we can build on the progress already under way and elevate support for students and families across San Joaquin County.
“Stanislaus State’s Stockton Campus is critically important for the future of not just Stockton but San Joaquin County,” she said. “It’s a place where a renaissance is happening right now.”
