KIRSTEN CILLS

FACILITATOR

LONG STORY SHORT

In 2018, shortly after graduating from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Kirsten was left stewing in the signature Post-Grad Emotional Cocktail: one part excitement, three parts fervor, and a splash of “Mom, yeah it’s me again. I’m confused.” When Kirsten first came across the Collegiate Empowerment mission, her purpose solidified in an instant. She felt called to serve students in a way she wished she had been served: to help them get what they want and need. Little did Kirsten know she was not just walking into a “company,” she was joining a passionate and driven team of rock stars. 

THE REST OF THE STORY

For as long as Kirsten can remember, she has always known that she leads with humor, communication, and kindness above all else. Kirsten has spent her career as a stand-up comic and actor. Throughout her educational and professional career, she has performed for more than 8,000 audience members in more than ten years. After obtaining her Bachelors of the Fine Arts in Acting with a minor in Musical Theater, Kirsten continued pursuing her career through the outlets of film and live comedy. In 2018, she was lucky enough to begin bringing those skills to her work with Collegiate Empowerment.

Kirsten lives her life with the belief that “the way we treat each other is everything”, deeply rooting herself in the understanding that there is nothing more important than the human connection. It’s what drives us, what gets us out of bed, what makes us strive for more. Being a CE performer means being part of something greater than herself, surrounding herself with those who share this common value, and being lucky enough to pass these passions along to the students being served. Her goal is to not only give students the drive to push themselves for something greater, but more importantly, give them the empowerment to act on it. Kirsten’s journey with Collegiate Empowerment has solidified that she is in the right place at the right time in her life. The symbiotic relationship that comes with the opportunity to both serve students—and be served by them—is one that never ceases to amaze her.

REAL GPA 

Kirsten leads herself and others with her humor, compassion, strength in flexibility, and her clear and confident leadership approach. She firmly believes that a professional is nothing without their Core Genius, their Core Passion, their desire to do something meaningful, and their ability to harmonically utilize all three.

OUTSIDE OF CE

When she’s not working with Collegiate Empowerment, Kirsten spends her time acting in films, advocating for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and performing stand-up in South Philadelphia. She prides herself on being able to name every episode of The Office from memory, and for her ability to take three naps a day when given the opportunity. Kirsten dreams to break the record for ‘Most RedBull Consumed by One Woman in A Year,’ and although that is not a real award, she has made it clear that she’s not accepting feedback on said dream at this time.

SIGNATURE MOVE

An unfaltering and genuine interest in all she crosses paths with.