Kristen McCallum

Kristen McCallum was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY. She transferred from SUNY Westchester Community College to UAlbany, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English.

After an expansive career in corporate human resources and operations, Kristen chose to pursue her passion for storytelling and community engagement as a founder and consultant. She founded the collective visioning firm, SafeWordSociety, in 2017. One of SafeWordSociety's notable projects include "The SafeWordSociety Podcast," which was donated to the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library as part of a collection catalogued by Steven G. Fullwood and Miranda Sims, founders of the Nomadic Archivists Project. 

As a consultant and creative thought partner, Kristen is highly regarded for her ability to inspire clarity and focus of vision. With a dynamic roster of clients, including The Obama Foundation and Peoplmovr, her past projects range from designing dialogue-centered curricula and programming to strategic planning and guidance.

Kristen is currently pursuing her master's degree in English at UAlbany, with a concentration in creative writing. As a storyteller, Kristen's work prioritizes creating space and opportunities to share and explore dynamic narratives of historically marginalized lives and relationships. Kristen's debut fiction novel, FREE GIRLS, will be published by Flatiron Books in 2026.

As a former Project Excel student, Kristen is excited to be a part of OAAE and encourage other first generation students to trust their experiences and pursue their passions.