If your semester is full to the brim and going fast, know that you’re walking in the footsteps of academic legends like Kristen Pignatelli ’08. During her time as a Mount Saint Mary College student, Kristen rewrote the definition of “hustle,” navigating an accelerated degree program in Psychology while balancing a full-time and a part-time job simultaneously.
When asked when she found time to sleep during that yearlong sprint, Kristen admitted, “I don’t know. I still don’t know the answer to that question.”
While a schedule like that sounds daunting – because it is – it was the perfect training ground for a future executive.
“I think I do best under that kind of pressure and that go-go-go mentality,” she noted, “so I think that’s what landed me in this position.”
Today, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer at New Hope Community, a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was promoted to the position in December of 2025, after eight years of working with the organization.
Despite her high-level responsibilities, her motivation remains grounded in the people she serves: “My biggest reward is always seeing how the people that we support within the organization are thriving and how much they’re impacted by the work that the staff here does every day,” she explained.
At the Mount, Kristen discovered the science behind stress, specifically the relationship between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. She identifies this as one of the key skills that allowed her to step outside her comfort zone and lead others with confidence. Now, for example, she personally conducts professional trainings for groups of more than 50 people.
“I remember taking public speaking at the Mount and I think that was such a pivotal piece for me,” she said. “I had never really spoken in front of anyone... a class, a group of people, a training…I really credit the Mount for giving me the skills to step outside of being a shy person.”
Kristen isn’t the only one in her family to be part of the Mount legacy: Her younger sister, Jeannine Pignatelli, is also a Mount alumna. It was her sister’s “really great experience” as an undergrad that influenced Kristen to return to school at the Mount as an adult learner.
For current students looking to build their own path to success, Kristen has one primary piece of advice: “You get out of it what you put in.” She encourages every student to look beyond the textbooks and embrace everything the Mount offers, from club activities to exploring internships through the college’s Center for Academic and Career Services (CACS).
“The experience outside the classroom can be just as meaningful as the experience inside the classroom,” she explained.
Whether you’re living on campus or a commuter like she was, teamwork and leadership are what truly build the foundation for a career that makes a difference, she said.