Joined the staff
October 2019
Favorite Thing About ACF
Serving, collaborating and engaging with the community while bringing to life the vision of hardworking, philanthropic families and individuals in a thriving and inclusive Summit County.
What She Does
As Director of Community Investment at Akron Community Foundation, Cristina oversees nearly $3 million in competitive grantmaking, guiding investments that strengthen more than 200 nonprofit organizations across Summit County. She leads a skilled team in managing grant cycles and community engagement, ensuring equitable, transparent and data-informed practices that align with national philanthropic standards. Cristina has strengthened the foundation's work by evolving its proactive grantmaking strategies, introducing forward-looking practices that build trust with nonprofits, and facilitating community conversations that foster collaboration and mobilize resources. She brings a rare skillset in shaping community-centered investment strategies that are evidence-based, responsive and aligned with local priorities.
What She Did Before
Cristina previously served as a research associate at Summit Education Initiative, where she built collaborations across schools, nonprofits and after-school providers to advance educational equity and improve student outcomes. This work sharpened her ability to turn data into strategy, drive data-informed decision making, and build systems that improve accountability and equity across Summit County. She also gained experience in early childhood education and applied research through roles with Head Start and The University of Akron's Institute for Bioscience and Social Research, where she developed program evaluation practices, compliance systems and cross-sector partnerships. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs and two master's degrees – one in Communication and one in Public Administration – from The University of Akron.