Providing care for all people

After completing both her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work at MSUM, Kristen Thomason joined the team at the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center (RACC) as a counselor, where she has worked for eight years. Through the RACC, she regularly goes to jails and assists with healthy relationship programming, something she views as an honor and doesn't take for granted.

"I'm so proud of my clients, and the people I've met in jail stand out in my mind every day," Kristen says.

Kristen is also the chair of the RACC's Underserved Population Committee, through which she has a hand in organizing the company's PRIDE event every year. She has also sat with the MSUM social work department to review master of social work graduates' portfolios, and mentors undergraduate social work majors.

Kristen has served with the Fargo Boys and Girls Club, Planned Parenthood, Red River Women's Clinic, the Fargo Food Pantry, and Replant the Red in Fargo. In her partnering with Planned Parenthood, she helps to teach students about healthy relationships, consent, and body safety. For her integral and influential advocacy work in the F-M area, Kristen has received the MSUM Foundation's 2025 10 Under 10 Award.

Her biggest goal for her work is to have a healthy and safe place for marginalized communities. "Each and every client, regardless of their background or identity, deserves culturally competent, person-centered care," Kristin says.