By Phyllis Ryder & Andrea Fishburn
On May 1st, 2025 the GW University Writing Program bid a bittersweet farewell to Dr. Randi Kristensen, who retired after more than 25 years of distinguished service as professor and scholar. Dr.. Kristensen shaped the minds of countless students, with writing courses that engaged the African diaspora, gender, and cultural studies. She co-authored Writing Against the Curriculum, and published articles and book chapters on decolonizing knowledge and activism in Jamaica (Community Literacy Journal 17.2), Queer Black Atlantic (s/x salon 38 & 39) and teaching epistemic research across the university (Teaching Information Literacy and Writing Studies). She also published fiction, memoir, and poetry.
Dr. Kristensen came to GWU’s English Department in 2001. She joined the newly independent University Writing Program (UWP) in 2004, and held affiliate appointments with Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Dr. Kristensen served as Deputy Director in the Writing in the Disciplines Program, building the culture of writing across the university through faculty and GA workshops, WID Distinguished Lecture series, and WID prizes. In addition to leading multiple UWP committees, Kristensen was deeply invested in supporting first-generation students at GWU; she served as faculty mentor to both the POSSE program and the GW First Generation Program.
As the first chair for the Julian Clement Chase Prize, Dr. Kristensen developed the unique and moving structure for that prize and ceremony, which celebrates the city as a site of discovery for GWU undergraduates. The Chase Prizes honor Sgt. Julian Clement Chase, a Washington, D.C. native who had been accepted to GWU days before he was killed in action in Afghanistan. Sgt. Chase loved his hometown—from Rock Creek Park to Ben’s Chili Bowl—and relished exploring it. The annual ceremony brings together DC writers, veterans, and GW students who carry on this spirit.
At the May 1st celebration, many of Dr. Kristensen’s colleagues expressed how she had inspired them throughout her career. Former GWU Provost Forrest Maltzman recalled Dr. Kristensen’s presence as a Faculty in Residence in Thurston Hall who went above and beyond to support the students there; Executive Director for Academic Success Programs ChanteClarkson thanked Dr. Kristensen whose influence and example encouraged Ms. Clarkson to pursue a Ph.D.; and First Generation Program Associate Sean Watley presented a tribute video, linked below, from the First Generation Program (FGP) members, which conveyed how much he and the students have valued her caring and community dinners.
As Dr. Kristensen steps into this next chapter of her life, we celebrate her countless contributions to academia and the lasting impact she has had on the generations of students and colleagues she has mentored. We wish her all the best, with the knowledge that her influence will continue to shape the academic and cultural landscape of the University Writing Program and GW Community for many years to come.
Congratulations, Dr. Randi Gray Kristensen, and thank you for your extraordinary service and leadership!
