Recognized as part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
Through her work at the San Diego College of Continuing Education, Dr. Kirsten Lollis is helping students facing real-life barriers not only continue their education, but begin to see new possibilities for themselves.
SAN DIEGO, Calif.
For many students, education is not the hardest part.
Life is.
For some, it shows up as a job that leaves little time or energy to study. For others, it is the pressure of supporting a family while trying to stay enrolled. It can be the instability of housing, the complexity of navigating a new country, or the frustration of trying to understand systems that were never clearly explained. And sometimes, it is something quieter but just as powerful, the slow build of self-doubt that convinces someone they may not belong in a classroom at all.
These are the realities Kirsten Lollis sees every day.
And they are exactly why her work matters.
A Perspective That Began Long Before the Classroom
Kirsten’s understanding of these challenges didn’t begin with her professional role. It began at home, where both of her parents worked as educators. From an early age, she and her sisters were taught that success is not just something to achieve for yourself, but something to use in service of others. That lesson became a foundation she carried into every stage of her life.
At the same time, she witnessed service in action through organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club, and Rotary International. These weren’t distant affiliations. They were active communities of people showing up for others, consistently and without hesitation. Through those experiences, Kirsten developed a belief that continues to shape her work today: where someone begins in life is often the result of circumstances beyond their control, but what happens next can be influenced by the support they receive along the way.
What Her Students Are Really Navigating
In her role at the San Diego College of Continuing Education, Kirsten works with students whose lives rarely follow a traditional academic path. Many are adult learners returning to school after years away, trying to rebuild momentum in a world that has changed around them. Others are immigrants learning to navigate both a new country and a new education system at the same time. Some are individuals working to rebuild their lives after incarceration, while others are balancing school alongside housing instability or financial hardship.
While their backgrounds vary, their experiences often overlap. Many arrive motivated but overwhelmed, carrying responsibilities that extend far beyond the classroom. Some are unsure how to use basic technology. Others don’t know where to find essential resources like food, mental health support, or academic guidance. And many have tried to move forward on their own before, only to feel discouraged when they couldn’t find the help they needed.
Over time, those experiences can shape how a person sees themselves. Not as someone capable of succeeding, but as someone who has fallen behind.
Kirsten understands that by the time a student walks through the door, they are not just bringing a course schedule with them. They are bringing everything they’ve had to manage just to get there.
Where Her Work Becomes Something More
This is where Kirsten’s role expands beyond traditional expectations.
Her work is not limited to helping students understand academic material. Instead, she focuses on removing the barriers that make learning possible in the first place. For one student, that might mean learning how to use a computer for the first time. For another, it could mean gaining access to a laptop or being connected to mental health services during a difficult period. In other cases, it may involve helping someone find food assistance, guiding them through programs like San Diego Cares, or simply helping them understand how to navigate an unfamiliar system.
Each of these moments may seem small in isolation, but together they create the conditions that allow students to stay engaged. Without that support, education often becomes secondary to survival. With it, students are able to focus, progress, and begin to see a path forward.
The Challenges Are Real and She Meets Them Head-On
Kirsten does not overlook or underestimate the challenges her students face. She sees clearly how financial instability, housing insecurity, language barriers, and competing responsibilities can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. She also recognizes that one of the most difficult barriers to overcome is not external, but internal, the loss of confidence that can develop after repeated setbacks.
Many of her students have experienced what it feels like to try and fail without support. Some have been discouraged by systems that felt confusing or inaccessible. Others have simply reached a point where continuing felt too difficult.
Kirsten meets those realities with both empathy and action. She understands that support is not just about encouragement, but about providing tangible resources and guidance that help students move forward.
A Leadership Style That Blends Compassion and Structure
What makes Kirsten especially effective is her ability to combine understanding with execution. She connects with students on a human level, recognizing that each person’s situation is different, while also providing structured support that leads to real outcomes. Her experience as an educator is strengthened by her background as a business owner and Regional Developer for Dill Dinkers in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where she developed skills in leadership, organization, and operations.
This combination allows her to do something many people struggle to balance. She provides support that is compassionate, while also ensuring that it is practical and results-driven. Students are not only encouraged, they are guided.
What Impact Looks Like Over Time
The impact of Kirsten’s work is not always immediate or dramatic, but it is consistent and meaningful. Over time, students who once struggled begin completing courses and earning certificates through the Tutoring and Learning Center. Others gain enough confidence to speak English more comfortably, ask questions, and participate more fully in their education.
Her influence also extends to those she works alongside. Two of her tutors received job promotions while working under her leadership, reflecting the way she supports not only students, but colleagues as well. In another instance, she taught one of her managers the importance of saving ten percent of her paycheck, a simple but powerful lesson that was later shared with others. These moments demonstrate how her impact extends beyond individual interactions, creating ripple effects that continue to grow over time.
A Moment That Says Everything
One moment, in particular, captures the essence of Kirsten’s work.
She noticed a student who had a natural strength in math, even though the student did not yet recognize it herself. Instead of letting that go unnoticed, Kirsten encouraged her to apply to a math and science program that could expand her opportunities. The student took that step, and in doing so, began to see herself differently.
That shift was not just academic.
It was personal.
It was the moment where possibility became real.
And it is a reminder that sometimes, what changes a person’s trajectory is not a major intervention, but a single moment of recognition and encouragement.
Service That Extends Beyond the Classroom
Kirsten’s commitment to helping others continues well beyond her role at the college. She volunteers as a mentor with the Delta G.E.M.S. program, which focuses on developing leadership, academic excellence, and career readiness among young women. Through this work, she helps prepare the next generation to move forward with confidence and direction.
She also remains actively involved in service through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club, and Rotary International. She also recently volunteered at BizCon through Young Black & ‘N Business. Young Black & N’ Business (YNB) is a dynamic networking organization supporting early-stage entrepreneurs by creating intentional spaces where ideas can be tested, refined, and scaled. Centered on advancing Black-led innovation, initiatives like BizCon, e-learning programs, and pitch competitions serve as incubators for emerging ventures, while signature experiences such as the Black & Gold Gala and community stakeholder programs amplify local business narratives.
Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million leaders and problem-solvers who work together to create lasting change in communities around the world. Through these organizations, Kirsten contributes to efforts that extend far beyond a single classroom, reinforcing a consistent theme in her life, service is not something separate from her work, it is part of who she is.
Learn more: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved
Recognition That Reflects Real Impact
Kirsten’s contributions have been formally recognized within the San Diego College of Continuing Education. She was acknowledged in the June 23, 2025 Presidential Message from President Dr. Tina M. King for her leadership and her work supporting student learning through the Tutoring and Learning Center. This recognition reflects what many students and colleagues already know through experience, her work creates real impact in spaces where it is needed most.
Her Philosophy, In Her Own Words
At the center of everything Kirsten does is a belief that guides her work every day:
“My goal is simple: when students walk through our doors, I want them to know someone cares about their success.”
And just as importantly:
“If they leave believing they can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, then the work we do truly matters.”
Why Her Story Matters Now
At a time when many people are trying to restart, rebuild, or simply find a way forward, Kirsten Lollis represents something essential.
Her impact is not defined by moments of ease, but by her consistent presence during the moments when things feel uncertain, overwhelming, or difficult to navigate. She meets people where they are, often at the point where continuing feels hardest, and helps them move forward with clarity, support, and renewed confidence.
In many ways, her work speaks to a larger truth. Progress is not always determined by systems, policies, or access alone. Sometimes, the difference between giving up and continuing comes down to whether someone feels seen, supported, and encouraged at the right time.
And for many students across San Diego, Kirsten Lollis is that person, the one who shows up, stays present, and helps them keep going when it matters most.
This recognition is part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
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