Kristen Smith Dayley

Kristen knows the power that personal stories have to change hearts and minds and replace feelings of helplessness with a determination to act. Kristen is a practicing attorney who began working with refugees in the Seattle, Washington area in 2016. Focusing initially on the legal needs of asylum seekers, Kristen soon became involved in issues and services around the resettlement of individuals from various countries to new homes in Washington state. Bearing witness to the burdens, barriers and trauma that these resilient and determined individuals and families carry and confront inspires Kristen to find ways to open doors and find solutions that can alleviate these challenges. Having admired the work that Their Story Is Our Story was doing in sharing first-hand refugee stories, Kristen jumped at the opportunity to volunteer with TSOS in 2019 and became its Executive Director in May 2021. Kristen received her law degree from Harvard Law School and loves deep discussions, good food, exploring new places, and learning from others. She and her husband have four children and one pandemic puppy.