2019 Tillman Scholar

Christina McKinnon

Military Spouse
University of Texas
MSW

“WE ALL HAVE A REDEMPTION STORY. MY GOAL IS TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN, THE OBSTACLES THEY’VE OVERCOME AND TO ENVISION A PURPOSEFUL FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES.”

Chrissy aged out of the foster care system in Maryland, and because of attentive teachers, counselors and social workers, was inspired to pursue a lifetime of service as a social worker. She experienced the impact of making space for a person to be who they are, and loving them right where they’re at, and decided there is no greater purpose she’d like to dedicate her life to.

Chrissy married her high school sweetheart, put her career dreams on hold and eagerly began supporting his calling as a soldier. An Army spouse of 16 years, Chrissy served her immediate and military families through deployments, birthed five beautiful babies and moved ten times between seven states. She has been an active leader in Family Readiness Groups, marriage retreats and more. However, the most meaningful experiences for her were those sitting beside families affected by trauma, betrayal, mental illness, addiction and suicide. She believes that people need to share their stories, and it is in the sharing that the healing begins.

Because of the Pat Tillman Foundation’s support–not only financial, but community connection, encouragement, and inspiration–Chrissy’s dream was realized and she graduated in 2021. She is now serving clients as a Care Manager at NeuroFlow and appreciates the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented, creative, and thoughtful group of people. Her vision includes integrating technology with human connection to help people learn to trust themselves, who they are and desire to be, and ultimately discover their own redemption story.