Kirsten Richert Adjunct Faculty, School of Business, Montclair State University

Kirsten Richert is an innovation expert who works with leaders on transformational efforts. Kirsten teaches design thinking, communication, and innovation at a number of colleges in the greater NYC area. Her teaching draws upon her experience in three core disciplines: business management, ideation methodology, and facilitation. She received her undergraduate degree in social science from Hampshire College, her master’s degree in social studies education from Teachers College at Columbia University, and her training in innovation and facilitation methods from SIT (Systematic Inventive Thinking) and ToP (Technology of Participation).

Formerly vice president of product management and marketing at Pearson, the world’s leading educational publisher, Kirsten oversaw the creation of breakthrough “digital-first” K–12 curriculum. Trained as a corporate on-call innovation coach, she’s helped teams plan new efforts, generate ideas, and execute on strategies.

Now, as an innovation catalyst, Kirsten guides change efforts for organizations, especially in the areas of education and human development. She is particularly interested in organizations that integrate the arts into their work towards social change, such as the Alliance for Arts and Health New Jersey, Real Beauty: Uncovered, and The Barat Foundation.