When Kristen Watson first volunteered in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in the 1990s, she didn’t know it would set her on a path back home to Waukegan and to Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. Encouraged by her Jesuit brother, Brian Paulson, she joined a junior development board in 1996 and met many dedicated members of the Catholic community, including Preston Kendall.
Years later, after settling in Evanston with her family, Kristen’s brother stopped by and mentioned that Preston was now leading a Cristo Rey school in Waukegan. It felt like things had come full circle. Kristen had grown up in Waukegan, where her family once owned and operated a restaurant across from what is now the school.
“I loved the model,” she said. “It helps students not just prepare for college but also learn how to navigate the world through real work experience.”
Kristen soon joined CRSM, first helping to build partnerships for the Corporate Work Study Program, then serving as the Director of Development and participating in a capital campaign that led to the state-of-the-art campus we are in today. Her brothers, Martin and Tom Paulson, have also been part of the school’s early history. Martin served on the founding board before it became Cristo Rey St. Martin, and Tom has supported fundraising and work study efforts throughout the years.
Kristen worked at CRSM for eight years, leaving to spend more time with her children but carrying with her a deep connection to the place. “I don’t consider myself a very religious person, but at CRSM I often felt close to God. Miracles happen there. The students and their resilience constantly reminded me of that.”
She smiles when she remembers the early days. “Back in the old school, gym class took place in the parking lot. Seeing photos now of students playing on a real field and in a gym makes me so happy. No community deserves it more.”
After leaving full-time work at CRSM, Kristen expanded on her passion for supporting the rights of migrants and the rights of educational opportunities for under-resourced youth. Today, she serves on the boards of Evanston Scholars and Jesuit Refugee Services USA, and as a mentor with the Humanas Foundation. Through Humanas, Kristen and her husband, Mike, mentor CRSM alumni Litzy Martinez (’23) and Josh Hernandez (’22), meeting regularly to encourage and advise them as they navigate college life.
Kristen and her husband continue to be deeply involved with Cristo Rey St. Martin as generous supporters of the Promise Scholars Program, which provides financial assistance to help CRSM graduates persist through college. Their commitment reflects the same spirit that drew Kristen to the school years ago, a belief in opportunity, hard work, and the power of community.
For Kristen Watson, CRSM will always be a place where hard work, faith, and compassion come together to make something extraordinary happen every day.