Kirsten Hampton’s poems, articles and stories in literary and academic journals have won numerous awards. Her debut collection of poems The Ocean Cannot Be Blue was named to Beltway Poetry Quarterly’s Ten Best Books of 2019, was recognized as Gold Winner, Diversity Poetry Human Relations Indie Book 2020, and as a finalist for the Balcones Poetry Prize 2020, Cider Press Review Book Award 2017 (judged by Lauren K. Alleyne), Eric Hoffer Poetry Book Award 2020, and the Jean Feldman Poetry Prize 2018. A selection of Hampton’s poems have also been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize.

Hampton has guest lectured on the creative process at Fordham University and other colleges and been an editor or reader for academic and literary publications including Little Patuxent Review. She received poetry fellowships and residencies from The Gettysburg Review, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

After graduating from Cornell University, Hampton began her career working in British Parliament, U.S. Congress, and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She served for over 10 years in higher education as a Vice President and Associate Dean. She then served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for policy and education nonprofits. Hampton partners in Hampton Consulting & Film LLC, serving arts, education, environment and policy clients, and producing documentary films that have won Best Documentary and other awards.