Dr. Kristina Woolsey has emphasized human centered design for decades in work that extends across psychology, science, architecture, learning, human interface design and new media technologies. She holds a Ph.D. in cognitive science, and completed a post doctoral fellowship in architecture before joining the faculty of UC Santa Cruz. She was a Visiting Professor at MIT in the Architecture Machine Group, which evolved into the Media Lab.

She directed Advanced Research at Atari, was a founding member of the Apple Human Interface group, and directed and co-founded the Apple Multimedia Lab. After her first retirement she joined the Exploratorium, and led the relocation of this science museum that focuses on hands-on playful learning to the San Francisco waterfront.

She has three spectacular children, including Dr. Erika Woolsey.