Kristina Burkhardt began her career at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (2016-2021), making an impact as an outfielder while garnering All-ACC First Team Honoree in 2019 and an All-ACC Second Team honoree in 2021. Academically, she earned undergraduate degrees in both Sport Administration and Communication Studies.

Burkhardt spent her final year playing for the University of Michigan, adding Big Ten All Defensive Team (2022) and NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team (2022) to her already star-studded resume. She also earned the prestigious honor of being one of only nine inaugural winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a right fielder.

Burkhardt is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana with various ties to the athletics community including sisters who played softball and volleyball in college, respectively. Her older sister played softball at Purdue University (2012-2015) and continued to play professionally for the Dallas Charge, while her younger sister played volleyball for Old Dominion University (2019-2022) and is currently playing for the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Burkhardt comes to Illinois State with experience in Operations and Creative Marketing from her time at Ashley Burkhardt Training, LLC where she implemented brand image helping to increase social media interaction. She was also a Skill Instructor for the company, providing training to athletes at camps and clinics across the country. She will continue to work towards a master's degree in Sports Management at ISU, in addition to coaching.