As the Baltimore New American Access Coalition (BNAAC) Project Manager, Kirsten provides implementation support and oversight of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded BNAAC program, which focuses on providing benefit navigation, case management and community referrals for Baltimore’s Limited English Proficient immigrant population.  Kirsten provides support to MIMA and partnered community based organization subgrantees working on the BNAAC project through her role as Senior Program Officer for BNAAC at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). 

Prior to expanding her BNAAC role with MIMA, Kirsten was initially tasked with providing technical assistance, training and database management support for the BNAAC program through LIRS. Kirsten has worked for LIRS since 2018 and brings experience monitoring  and evaluating compliance for the Reception and Placement and Matching Grant programs, federal programs administered by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, respectively. Prior to joining LIRS, Kirsten provided case management services for newly arrived refugees in Baltimore. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communication Rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh.