Baldwin County School District Distinguished Alumni 2026: Dr. Kristy Cuthbert

From Baldwin High to the World

When Dr. Kristy Cuthbert graduated from Baldwin High School in 2001, college did not feel inevitable. “I was a low-income student and a first-generation student. I kind of had it in my mind that college was something people did if they had the money.” But sometimes it only takes one voice to shift a trajectory.

In biology class, Carla Grimes encouraged her to apply for Governor’s Honors, a simple suggestion that opened a new possibility. “It was just so nice to have someone who says they think you can do it.”

At the same time, a local business owner who mentored her offered to pay for her SAT, telling her she was “smart enough” to leave town and pursue something bigger. Those nudges changed everything.

A Long and Winding Road

Dr. Cuthbert earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Georgia. But she soon realized that to fully pursue the field, she would need a doctoral degree. Something that once again felt financially out of reach.

So she made a bold decision: she enlisted in the United States Air Force.

“I wanted to force myself out of my comfort zone,” she said. Kristy Cuthbert

She served four years as a Korean linguist, living overseas and later working with U.S. Joint Special Forces. The experience broadened her world. Literally.

“The world felt very small. I wanted it to feel less overwhelming.” After completing military service, she pursued graduate school at Boston University, earning her Ph.D. in 2022. Today, she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Texas A&M University Psychology Clinic, where she teaches, mentors graduate students, and oversees clinical services. She also maintains a private practice specializing in borderline personality disorder.

Mentorship Matters

Dr. Cuthbert’s passion for psychology traces back to her grandmother, a psychiatric nurse at Central State Hospital, and to the high school psychology class that first captured her interest. But she is quick to emphasize something else: access. “There were people who really treated me differently because we grew up pretty low income,” she said.

That’s why she wants Baldwin students to know what she once didn’t:

“If someone tells you that you can’t do something, it’s okay to see that as a challenge.”

She now offers herself as a resource to students who feel unsure of their path.

“I just wish the students knew that if they have the potential, they can do big things.”

A Life of Exploration and Service

Dr. Cuthbert lives in Bryan–College Station, Texas, with her husband, Ben, whom she met while both were serving in the military. He retired after 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and now works with GE Aerospace building jet engines. Together, they have traveled to more than 16 countries, with a goal of visiting all seven continents. They also share their home with their dog, Ellie.

“I love seeing how other people live,” she said. Kristy Cuthbert

Despite her demanding role directing a year-round clinic, she returns to Milledgeville when she can and remains deeply connected to the community that shaped her.

Baldwin County School District Distinguished Alumni 2026

Dr. Kristy Cuthbert’s journey from Baldwin High School to international military service to doctoral-level clinical leadership reflects resilience, courage, and mentorship.

Her story reminds us that sometimes it only takes one teacher, one mentor, or one moment of belief to open a door and that Baldwin students are capable of walking through it.