Kristen Forkeutis grew up in Albany, New York. From there she first earned a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University in 1997. Following her schooling Kristen spent time working for both MASSPIRG as a Community/Student Organizer and The Boston Harbor Association as an Education Coordinator. Kristen has also spent more than a year traveling in both Australia and Europe where she volunteered at two animal rescue and rehabilitation centers and worked to support her travels. During this time Kristen decided to return to school to study art, an interest of hers since childhood. In 2002 Kristen began working towards her BFA in Graphic Design at FIT, which she recently completed. In her second year at FIT, Kristen was presented with an award from The Art Directors Club, as one of the top student designers in New York City.