Kristen Himmerick

Vice President, Solutions

Kristen Himmerick joined CAEL in June 2012 as director of academic technology and student engagement for the LearningCounts portfolio assessment program. She now leads the Solutions Team, including the signature programs EPCE and NACTEL and the developer of technology sites and apps, specializing in linking learning and work for a region or industry. In 2021, Himmerick became a certified change management practitioner.

Before joining CAEL, Himmerick was part of the Innovation Lab at Southern New Hampshire University, where she helped to author the proposal for a self-paced, competency based associate’s degree that was awarded the Next Generation Learning Challenge Grant for College Completion (SNHU’s College for America Program). Managing academic technology projects, including the system-wide launch of their first LMS and student email system, she started her career at the City Colleges of Chicago. 

Himmerick has extensive experience working with higher education institutions and systems to launch large scale academic technology projects. Her unique background of technology leadership, academic program management and change management makes her a great CAEL team member to assist in large CPL projects; from planning and design to technology implementation.

Also an actress and singer, Himmerick has performed in theaters across Chicago. Past regional theater appearances include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Second City, and Drury Lane Oak Brook. She earned an M. Ed. from the University of Illinois and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a musical theater certificate from Northwestern University.