Alumni Spotlight – Kirstin (Border) Snow ‘88

Planning an event for a visit from the Vice President of the United States, coordinating a luncheon for the First Lady, meeting on a daily basis with, arguably, the second most powerful Democrat in the country is all in a day’s work for Susky’s own Kirstin (Border) Snow, a proud member of the Class of 1988.

Kirstin was an excellent student at SHS, graduating with honors and as a member of the National Honor Society. She was also an excellent violinist, as proven by her selection for district, regional, and state festival orchestras. And she was active in student government, foreign exchange student (Italy), and a pit orchestra performer in school musicals.

If that wasn’t enough to fill an impressive high school resume, she was captain of the Warrior field hockey team where she earned three varsity letters and contributed to a District III championship. And in the spring season, she ran track, was team captain, earned four varsity letters, and contributed to another district III championship.

Her passion for field hockey continued at Ursinus College, where she competed at the NCAA Division I level, once reaching the magical “Final Four” in national championship play. She graduated from Ursinus in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and began a career in advertising and public relations.

Her first position was in Baltimore, where she spent three years as a business development coordinator while earning a Masters degree in political philosophy from Western Maryland College, completing that program in 1996. After that, it was three years in New York City as an Account Manager and then a return to Central Pennsylvania as Vice President of Hershey Philbin Associates, a local marketing and consulting firm.

And during that busy period, she somehow found time to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant, winning the title, and representing the Keystone State in the Miss America Pageant in 1994.

In 1998, she was named Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications for Keystone Health Plan, an assignment that evolved into a similar position with Highmark Blue Shield in 2002. She also served as Assistant to the Information Officer of the Flight 93 Memorial Event. During this period, Kirstin married, had a son (Zane), and pursued a Doctorate in Business Administration, a program she successfully completed in 2004.

It was in that year that Kirstin, now Dr. (Border) Snow decided to alter her career path, entering the world of politics, by joining Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell’s administration, where she now serves as Bureau Director of Commonwealth Media Services. She manages a 28- person staff that provides media services to the Governor’s office, his cabinet members, as well as all agencies and commissions under his jurisdiction.

Over the course of her career, she has taught at Eastern College, Lebanon Valley College, Duquesne University, Shippensburg University, Messiah College, and Central Pennsylvania College in many graduate and undergraduate course areas, including human resources, marketing, advertising, and world politics.

Among her many honors, Kirstin has been named one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business, added to Pennsylvania’s Distinguished Honor Roll for Women, is the recipient of an EMMY, two ADDYs (American Advertising Awards for Excellence), and the Gold Medal from the NYC Film Festival, and, (how’s this for a renaissance woman), is ranked 2nd among autocross drivers in AHSCC Eastern Region.

But even in the framework of this rich and exciting life, Kirstin carries Glen Rock with her each day, remembering the camaraderie of a small town and the bonds made during her school days. She says, “The best friends I now have are those I made in Kindergarten at Southern Elementary School.”

As to the future with a job that tends to rise and fall with the next election, Kirstin would like to stay in politics, hoping to serve in at least one more administration and continue teaching at the graduate level.

Thanks to Kirstin Border, Class of 1988, for making us Warrior Proud!