Christina Coad - ccoad@uw.edu

Christina is an Indigenous woman of Oneida and European descent. She has a J.D. from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Indian Legal Program. Christina did her undergraduate studies at San Francisco State University where she specialized in Sociology, Social Psychology, and American Indian Studies. She is a lawyer licensed to practice in Washington State where she is a member of the Indian Law Section.  

Christina has 20 years of experience in the delivery of social services and advocacy for children and their families in both Canada and the United States and has many years of executive leadership experience in Indigenous child welfare. Christina has been an independent consultant since 2005 where she provides training and curriculum development in child welfare, violence against women, and the Indigenization of Justice and Public Safety among others. Christina received the Bonnie Heavy Runner Victim Advocacy Award for her work in service of Indigenous victims of crime in 2016.  

In addition to having professional experience supporting families, she is a former foster parent and the adoptive parent of two teenage girls from care. Christina is also the mother of a Marvel super-fan and the step-mother to two adult children living in California. Christina enjoys NFL football, traveling and camping with her family.

Christine Kerns - kernsc9@uw.edu

Christine Kerns is a transformational leader with 20+ years of experience serving children and families with a focus on program and staff development; relationship building; and effecting sustainable growth strategies.

Christine has worked in nonprofit, state government and university settings in a variety of supervisory and project management roles. Her career has included social work, constituent relations and program administration positions where she focused on creating opportunity and minimizing barriers, for both staff and customers. She approaches staff development with an eye toward mentorship and professional education, helping create a more equitable employment environment and providing career mobility.

In her role at the Alliance, Christine oversees core curriculum development, which involves cross-departmental strategizing, project management, partner stakeholder engagement and third-party vendor coordination.

Christine received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Boise State University and her Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Washington University.