A Journey of Advocacy Alumna Leads ICP with Heart
Alumna Kailie Grinder ’16, who earned a doctorate in intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, has returned to campus as Westmont’s intercultural programs (ICP) interim director.
A student leader in ICP during her college years, she created spaces where all students, including students of color and those from international backgrounds, could feel they belonged. “God used my journey of learning to advocate for others to deepen my passion to empower and encourage those who stood in the margins,” she says. “This calling, grounded in my own story of being multiracial, multiethnic and multicultural, led to a variety of vocations in education, ministry and the marketplace.”
After graduating from Westmont, she served as an inner-city elementary school teacher, executive pastor, researcher and emissary with two organizations that equipped missionary families for deployment around the globe.
For her doctorate, she looked at third-culture kids (TCKs), who grow up in cultures outside of their parents’ home country, to understand the mix of cultures that shape them and how people who mentor or guide them can help them feel confident living between different worlds.
“I took on the ambitious task of not only bridging the gaps I saw in previous TCK studies, but also communicating a vital message of hope that TCKs can enjoy amazing gifts from a life lived in between cultures,” she says. “It was an honor to witness TCKs from around the world courageously sharing their stories and affirm this message of hope amidst the crucibles they navigated. I’m incredibly thankful that my dissertation went beyond the realm of theory; it led to tangible applications that allowed me to help strengthen the care of TCKs within families and institutions.”
Grinder appreciates the quality education she received and the lifelong friendships she made at Westmont, but admits she struggled to be accepted by her Christian peers. “God has impressed upon me the importance of building people up to be ALL of who they are so they can confidently walk into whatever calling he has placed on their lives,” she says. “I intend to mentor students with this goal in mind, starting with my student leaders in ICP.”
Her student-leader team developed a vision statement for the semester: “We boldly empower our communities in such a way that we are known for our compassionate and resilient pursuit of unity in diversity.” The organization is open to all students.