Chrisa Ponthieu Atkins joined The Foundation's team in 2025. A proud Orange County native, she grew up in Bridge City, Texas, and later returned to nearby Orangefield to raise her family. Chrisa graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication, specializing in Journalism. It was during her time at Lamar—particularly through her involvement with the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter— that her passion for volunteerism and nonprofit work first took root.
She is married to her college sweetheart, Calem Atkins, and together they have three children. After taking a 13-year break from the workforce to focus on raising their family, Chrisa returned to her career with a deepened sense of purpose. Now at The Foundation, she is honored to be part of a mission-driven team working to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Being part of this work brings her great joy and a sense of alignment with her lifelong values of service and community.
Before stepping away to focus on her family, Chrisa served as the Director of Marketing & Leasing at Albanese Cormier Holdings and held various roles within the Student Affairs division at her beloved alma mater, Lamar University.
Outside of work and community service, Chrisa’s greatest joy is being with her family.