Dr. Kristen Harrell

Dr. Kristen Harrell is an Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Senior System Student Affairs Officer. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University. Dr. Harrell also has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. Prior to joining the Vice President for Student Affairs staff in 2021, Dr. Harrell served as an Associate Director in the Offices of the Dean of Student Life at Texas A&M University. Some functional areas in which Dr. Harrell has worked during her more than two decades in the field include housing, prevention education, and student conduct.

Dr. Harrell currently supervises four departments within the Division of Student Affairs (Residence Life, the Department of Multicultural Services, Music Activities and the Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource & Support Center) and spends 25% of her time with the Texas A&M University System office supporting Student Affairs functions. Dr. Harrell works with the compliance and emergency response needs of the Division, chairs the University Disciplinary Appeals Panel, which hears appeals of student conduct and student civil rights outcomes, works with Texas A&M University satellite campuses, and provides feedback to the University and System legislative liaisons on the state legislation impacting student affairs functions.

Outside of work, Dr. Harrell engages in choral music and dance in the community. Dr. Harrell occasionally guest lectures for a variety of courses in the SAAHE program and was the faculty member for higher education law during the fall 2025 semester.