New York – Kristin Stack

Hi! I’m a 26-year-old Doctoral student, splitting my time between living in Garfield, NJ and in Pittsburgh, PA, where I’m working toward my PhD from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business. My father is from Athea, Co. Limerick, and my mother is from Tralee, Co. Kerry. I go to Ireland once or twice a year to spend time with family, and this will be an extra-special way to return in August! Both sides of my family follow the Rose of Tralee Festival and have deep respect for the Roses; I’m honored to be among them, and I thank my family for seeing the Rose in me long before I saw it in myself. Back in the USA, I’m determined to have a career in the business world without sacrificing the things that make me happiest, like spending time with family in Ireland. I’ve grown up lucky enough to visit so often, and I want a career that allows me to keep that up. That’s why I’m pursuing academia! As an academic, I hope to pursue research projects in Corporate Social Responsibility and in employee performance and compensation. And I’ll also get to teach at the college level! When I’m not working or sneaking off to Ireland, I like running 5K’s with my dad and sister, hiking new, fun trails with my fiancé, or scoping out the best local Irish bar televising GAA or rugby games! During my time as a Rose, I hope to encourage more Irish and Irish-American women to pursue careers in business and in academia. We’ve made leaps and bounds in terms of gender equality in these fields, though I think they could still use more smart, kind, and talented women. I’m looking forward to the experience of a lifetime in the year ahead!