A native of the D.C. metropolitan area and a long-time public servant, Christenson served as the Chief Executive Officer for Placer County, California, serving a population of more than 400,000 residents. In this capacity, she provided executive oversight for a 3,000-employee organization, administering multidisciplinary services while advancing the Board of Supervisors’ strategic initiatives. Her portfolio included daily operations, regional infrastructure partnerships, legislative affairs, and initiatives focused on balancing responsible development with community conservation and open space priorities. Previously, Christenson led the strategic direction and daily operations for the City of Redmond, Washington. Her work emphasized innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and regional planning to support sustainable, community-centered development. She is also known for her efforts to grow local innovation economies as a means of improving quality of life for both residents and businesses.

Christenson holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and a Master of Arts from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy.