Dr. Kristy Thomas is an inclusion specialist who also considers herself to be a lifelong educator. With over twenty-five years of experience within the classroom on the high school and collegiate levels in the areas of speech and theatre she has committed her life to the work she proudly does with students. She expanded her areas of focus to include supporting students, faculty and organizations in their inclusion and equity efforts. She received her DEI Certificate from Cornell University in 2020 and utilizes that work to lead conversations within the student and faculty population at Havard Debate Council. Kristy believes that through education we can open and expand the way we work together in our business organizations so all people are represented, included, and feel as though their work and school places are exactly where they belong and want to be. She is committed to strengthening communication and relationship building across all organizations. Students need to learn how to properly advocate for themselves, while educators work with them on how properly utilizing their voices can assist them to grow in a positive direction as a person and future professional. Her strength comes from her background as an educator in the high school and college classrooms. Kristy has worked with educational institutions, non-for-profit organizations, board members, created videos to address school districts’ work toward creating equality for all, workshops with teen leadership groups and rooms full of educators who want to know more and do better, executives, human resource groups and recruiting officers and hopes to continue her work in these areas and expand to meet the needs of others.

Kristy presently works at Missouri State University where she is the Coordinator of Speech Theatre Education. There she works with future speech theatre educators and prepares them for the classroom and the constant changes that are evolving within education. She also operates Always Writing 4 U LLC, a writing and publishing company. Since opening the business in 2013 she has had National finalists every year with champions in: DI, DUO and five Prose National Champions. Her business Always Writing 4 U LLC also proudly sponsors Original Spoken Word Poetry at the Nationals Speech and Debate Association competition. Through her business she has a catalog of over 650 pieces in all areas of speech, edits oratories and informational speeches, does online coaching throughout the year and does sponsors summer camps. A core piece of her discussions is based on the idea that the information she shares with all of her clients is for them to take in and use within their organizations like a teacher would with their students. Her goal moving forward is to continue to work with students, teach future teachers, and write amazing stories.