Wisconsin native returns home to lead Marquette’s Title IX office
The “godmother of Title IX,” Bernice Sandler, passed away earlier this year at age 90. Kristen Kreple, who was named to head Marquette’s Title IX office only a month prior, hopes to carry on Sandler’s torch, citing the trailblazing equal rights activist among her heroes. The new appointment is a homecoming for Kristen, a Wisconsin native who previously served as Stanford University’s Title IX and equity investigator since 2015.
Kristen took a few moments recently to sit down with Marquette Today to talk about her eclectic interests, learning how to ask for help and the role she played in two U.S. Supreme Court justice confirmations.
Age: 36
Hometown: Plymouth, Wisconsin (the cheese capital of the world!)
Family: Ryan (spouse); Jack (son, 6 months); Woody (rescue pup, 3-ish)
Hobbies and interests: Long-distance running, exploring abandoned places, prison reform, mid-century modern architecture, the legislative process and connecting with members of our Marquette community
Favorite movies: My Cousin Vinny is my all-time favorite.
Heroes: My grandmother, Millie, who fought for equal pay as a teacher in the 1950s, and Bernice Sandler, the godmother of Title IX.
Favorite quotes/mottos: “Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” —Brené Brown
Currently reading: Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, by John Carreyrou. After living in Silicon Valley for a few years I became fascinated by the culture there.
Favorite vacation spots: It’s a tie between Joshua Tree National Park in California and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Biggest career learning experience: At the start of my career I wanted to be everything to everyone. I never thought the workload would be too heavy or the content beyond my ability to master. I didn’t want to ask for help because I didn’t want to appear weak. I learned that by asking for help I’d deliver better work, expand my knowledge, gain confidence, see things from other perspectives and build strong relationships with my colleagues.
Fun fact: As Senate Judiciary Committee counsel to former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, I worked on the United States Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.