Kristin McSwain leads the Office of Early Childhood as Director and as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor. McSwain brings more than 10 years of experience as the Executive Director of the Boston Opportunity Agenda, working directly with families, educators, and public and private organizations across the Commonwealth to remove systemic barriers for underserved youth.

Prior to joining the Boston Opportunity Agenda, Kristin served as the Chief of Program Operations for the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency. As Chief of Program Operations, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Corporation’s programs, including Senior Corps, Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps State and National. Kristin was appointed the Director of AmeriCorps State and National, the largest of the Corporation’s programs, in August of 2006 and named Chief of Program Operations in October of 2008.

Kristin has spent her entire professional career in education and national and community service. After graduating from The College of William and Mary, she enrolled as a corps member with Teach for America, serving as a fifth-grade teacher in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. Kristin continued to promote quality education through Teach for America and Citizen Schools as a staff member for the next six years. In 1997, she joined the staff of the Massachusetts Service Alliance, initially directing the Learn and Serve and AmeriCorps programs. In 2003, after attending Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance.

Kristin is a strong advocate for education and national service and an active participant in many volunteer and charitable organizations. She has served on the boards of Boston Cares, Friends of the Children Boston, and Voices for National Service. She currently serves on the GreenLight Fund Advisory Board, the United Way Community Impact Council, Boston’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Advisory Board, Friends of the Kilmer, 1647 and Encore Boston Network.

Kristin lives in Roslindale with her wife and three children.