Kailie Grinder

Dr. Kailie Grinder returned to her alma mater as the Interim Director of Intercultural Programs (ICP) after nearly a decade of living and working across cultures. She has served as an inner city elementary school teacher, short-term missions team leader, executive pastor, researcher, and emissary with two sending organizations to prepare workers and their families for international deployment. Motivated by her own journey as a multiracial and multiethnic Third Culture Kid (TCK) born and raised in North Asia, she is passionate about discipling young people to integrate their Christian faith and storied identities in a truly relational pursuit of unity in diversity. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a minor in Economics and Business from Westmont ('16), a Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership from Asia Life University ('19), and a Doctor of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary ('24). Her dissertation on fostering bicultural efficacy in liminality among TCKs led to platforms in education and in ministry to speak on topics such as cultural awareness, TCK care in seasons of transition, and Spirit-led hope and healing in spaces of conflict. While attending Westmont, she held leadership roles not only in ICP, but also Emmaus Road, Potter's Clay, and the Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts. She is honored to be back at Westmont to serve alongside a community that was significant to her own development as a scholar-practitioner.