Connection at the Center: Kirsten Dudley on Community, Service, and Life at Pierson College

In this episode of Yale College Voices, host Darice Corey welcomes Kirsten Dudley, Assistant Director of Operations at Pierson College, for a warm and candid conversation about the people, experiences, and unexpected turns that have shaped her life and career. Kirsten shares her path from retail and financial aid to proposal writing and eventually Yale, where she found a meaningful home in the residential college community. She reflects on the skills she carried from each role, what drew her back to education, and the joy she finds in supporting students and helping create the experiences that make Pierson College feel like home.

Their conversation also reaches beyond Kirsten's work at Yale, exploring her commitment to community service through Rotary, her belief that even small interactions can make someone's day better, and her deeply personal experience of reconnecting with her biological father and discovering a new side of her family. Throughout the episode, Kirsten's story returns to one central theme: connection. Whether supporting students, serving her community, helping a customer, or building relationships with family, she reminds us that some of our most meaningful contributions are found in the people we meet and the relationships we build along the way.

Podcast Host: Darice Corey | Senior Director of Web and IT Planning | Yale College Dean's Office | Staff Engagement Committee Co-Chair | Pierson College Fellow

Podcast Guest: Kirsten Dudley | Assistant Director of Operations | Pierson College

Video/Podcast Producer: Ryan McEvoy | Yale Broadcast Studio