Since 2002, Crista Tappan has helped businesses and brands build their communities online.
Crista is a published academic researcher, business owner, social media & marketing professional and instructor. She is passionate about technology, education and the power that social media has to bring us together.
During college and graduate school, Crista studied Psychology and spent eight years as an academic researcher. She has published several articles on the topics of flow, peak performance and well-being. In 2013, she earned her Master's Degree in Research Psychology from Cal Lutheran University.
She then took what she learned in her research and applied it to her professional work in building brands and communities online.
In 2015, Crista founded Dirtbag Runners Dirtbag Runners, a worldwide community of runners. What started out as a social media network and small apparel brand, bloomed into a successful eCommerce business, event company and both in-person and digital community. Crista's area of expertise is in the outdoor industry, and she has worked alongside big outdoor brands including Patagonia, Runner's World, Trail Runner Magazine, Lululemon, RedBull, Luna Sandals, REI and Adidas.
Crista currently works as the Content Marketing Manager at The School of Business and teaches MKTG 410: Social Media Strategy for Business. Crista also recently began researching again, and is currently looking at the rates of sexual assault and violence in the running community.