Cristina graduated from St. Lawrence University and attended Temple University Beasley School of Law where she competed for two years on Temple's National Trial Competition (NTC) team. During that time, she was a two-time Regional Champion in the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) and two-time winner of the John Kelly "Best Advocate in the Final Round" at NTC regionals. She was a two-time National Quarterfinalist at NTC nationals.

After graduation, Cristina was an Assistant State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, Florida. During her time as an ASA, she conducted over 30 felony jury trials, was a member of the Traffic Homicide Unit, and served as a Division Chief in the Juvenile Division. After returning to the Washington, D.C. area, she worked as litigation counsel for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for twelve years. Most recently, Cristina serves as an Assistant General Counsel for the Bureau of Prisons supervising the involuntary civil commitment of sex offenders in Bureau custody pursuant to the Adam Walsh Act.

Cristina began coaching AUWCL’s mock trial team in 2010. As a coach, Cristina has coached with great success, including: 

• 2011 Semifinalist, National Criminal Defense Lawyers Competition


• 2011Semifinalist, Quinnipiac Competition, Quinnipiac School of Law


• 2012 Octofinalist, South Texas Challenge, South Texas School of Law


• 2014 Finalist, In Vino Veritas, Golden Gate School of Law


• 2014 Quarterfinalist, South Texas Challenge, South Texas School of Law


• 2015 Finalist, In Vino Veritas, Golden Gate School of Law


• 2016 Regional Champion, National Trial Competition, Texas Young Lawyers Association


• 2016 Quarterfinalist, South Texas Challenge, South Texas School of Law


• 2016 Champion, In Vino Veritas, Golden Gate School of Law


• 2017 Semifinalist, National Civil Trial Competition, Loyola Los Angeles School of Law


• 2018 Champion, South Texas Challenge, South Texas School of Law


• 2019 Regional Champion, National Trial Competition, Texas Young Lawyers Association

These number do not even count the countless individual awards her students have received. Cristina’s influence does not stop there, she has been an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer with the Trial Advocacy Program since 2018. She teaches/has taught teaching both Criminal and Civil Trial Advocacy.