Meet Kristyn Smith Carver – Academic Alumni Hall of Fame Recipient

Kristyn came to Parkview as a sixth grader and adjusted quickly to life as an Eagle.  During her years at Parkview she participated in a variety of clubs and activities.  After graduating in 1993 Kristyn attended L.S.U. where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education.  She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling, Master of Theology, and Ph.D. in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Kristyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has a private counseling practice.  She is a Professor of Psychology and Counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where she occupies the Rose Ramsey Chair of Christian Counseling.  She has been teaching at NOBTS for eighteen years.  Kristyn teaches a variety of graduate and doctoral courses in clinical mental health counseling, with a focus on early childhood brain development and the effects of trauma on children.  She has completed training with Texas Christian University’s Institute of Child Development on a trauma informed intervention model for children with a history of abuse and trauma with foster and adoptive backgrounds.  In addition, Kristyn completed a fellowship with Tulane Medical School in the Early Childhood Policy and Leadership Institute.  She has been recognized for her contributions to the field of foster care and adoption as a recipient of the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington DC.

Kristyn has made significant inroads in changing the paradigm of trauma informed care in Louisiana’s foster care system.  She presents regularly to judges and lawyers on creating trauma informed courts and is currently working on a project with the state to make monthly trauma informed trust based training available across the state for child welfare workers, educators, foster families, CASA volunteers, and members of the judicial community.  As a foster and adoptive mom, Kristyn embraces ministry to kids from hard places both personally and professionally.  She considers it a privilege to work with her husband, Kim, to create awareness and bring about positive changes for children in foster care.

Kristyn is thankful for her years at Parkview where she believes her core values, leadership skills and walk with Christ were strengthened through relationships with excellent teachers and mentors.