Christy Craft, Ph.D. (Professor, Kansas State University)

Dr. Christy Moran Craft is a Professor in the Department of Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs at Kansas State University (K-State) where she also serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the College of Education and as the Coordinator of the Student Affairs graduate programs.

Dr. Craft received her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arizona. She also holds a B.S. degree in Psychology from Bradley University. Because of her experiences at Bradley University as an undergraduate student leader in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and as a Resident Assistant in the residence halls, Dr. Craft developed a passion for studying about and working within higher education. Those experiences formed the foundation of her research agenda that focuses on issues of spirituality, religion, and meaning-making in higher education, with a particular emphasis on the role and impact of Christianity among students, faculty, and staff in higher education and on legal guidelines related to religious expression.

She joined the K-State faculty in August of 2005 after having served in other administrative and faculty roles at the University of Arizona, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the University of Texas-El Paso. Dr. Craft teaches both master’s and doctoral level courses in higher education, student affairs, and academic advising.

Dr. Craft is actively involved in and has served in various roles within professional organizations including College Student Educators International (ACPA) and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA). She has also served on the editorial boards for the Journal of College Student Development, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, the Journal of College & Character, and Christian Higher Education. At K-State, she has served on numerous campus- and college-level committees, including the K-State President’s Committee on Religious, Spiritual, and Nonreligious Diversity and the College of Education’s Faculty Mentoring Committee. For her work, Dr. Craft has received several awards including the K-State College of Education’s Excellence in Advising Award (2008, 2025) and the K-State College of Education’s Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2010). In 2018, she was the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Member Award for NASPA IV-West.

Dr. Craft is married to Dave, and they have two young sons (Levi and Luke) and one puppy (Sophia). A couple of years ago when she turned 50, Dr. Craft checked an item off her bucket list by completing a motorcycle riders course and earning her motorcycle endorsement. When she is not involved in work- or family-related activities, she enjoys sharpening her riding skills.

Invited Presenters

Amanda Mollet (Assistant Professor, University of Kansas)

Cody Nielsen (Assistant Professor, Western Michigan University)

Fabiola Riobe (Vice President of Global Innovation, Kansas City Kansas Community College)

J. T. Snipes (Associate Professor of Higher Education and Chair, Southern Illinois Edwardsville)

Rodney Smith (Co-Founder, Sophic Solutions, LLC)

TBA