Who is Kristin Franke from Jeopardy? The Remarkable Story Behind the Washington, D.C. Pastor

Kristin Franke needed service hours.

That relatively ordinary requirement during her senior year of high school ended up influencing the next two decades of her life.

Franke volunteered with a sixth-grade children’s club and discovered an enduring interest in working with young people.

Years later, she is an ordained Presbyterian pastor serving at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

Her Education Initially Focused on Languages

At Valparaiso University, Franke studied French and Spanish.

She continued working in youth ministry during college, but another important interest emerged in 2004 when she encountered an ultimate-frisbee pickup game.

Franke became serious about the sport and helped lead Valparaiso’s first team, Something of Fury.

Few people could have predicted that she would eventually compete internationally.

Hong Kong Became a Transformative Five-Year Chapter

Franke and her husband Grant moved to Hong Kong in 2007.

Kristin became Youth Director at Union Church.

Working in an international congregation broadened her experience in youth ministry and Christian education.

At the same time, she joined the local ultimate scene.

From Hong Kong Junk to the World Championships

Franke played for Hong Kong Junk throughout her time there and became a captain.

In 2012, she and Grant were selected to represent Hong Kong in mixed ultimate at the World Ultimate and Guts Championships in Japan.

It was the culmination of a sporting journey that had begun with a college pickup game only eight years earlier.

Princeton Prepared Her for Ordained Ministry

Franke returned to the United States and attended Princeton Theological Seminary from 2012 through 2015.

She earned her Master of Divinity.

In 2016, she joined National Presbyterian Church in Washington as Director of Youth Ministries.

Over the next decade, her responsibilities grew dramatically.

Her Ministry Extends Beyond Teenagers

Franke’s work now reaches across generations.

She has developed and overseen programming involving children, middle-schoolers, high-school students, college students, young adults and families.

Retreats, mission programs, volunteer development and Christian education have all fallen within her responsibilities.

She has additionally consulted with Ministry Architects, helping other churches build more sustainable youth and children’s ministries.

Ordination Marked a New Chapter in 2026

On March 15, 2026, Franke was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament.

She became Associate Pastor for Next Generation Formation.

For someone whose ministry started with a teenage volunteer requirement, the moment represented a remarkable progression.

She Also Played Six Years With DC Scandal

Meanwhile, Franke continued playing elite ultimate after returning from Hong Kong.

She joined DC Scandal in 2013 and remained with the team through 2018.

She served as a captain and has also participated in coaching and written about succeeding at competitive tryouts.

Her Jeopardy! profile therefore represents only one facet of a biography built around ministry, international experiences, sport and education.