Kathleen’s Life and Work
Kathleen grew up in St. Louis and attended Wheaton College, where she earned a B.A. in English and French, sang in the Women’s Glee Club — and met her husband Niel. She completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in literature at Vanderbilt University, and has taught in the English departments of Vanderbilt, Bethel College (MN), and Wheaton. In recent years, Kathleen has spent the majority of her professional life writing, teaching, and speaking on biblical books and topics. She has authored numerous Bible studies as well as various books and edited volumes.
Kathleen has directed and taught Bible studies at several churches, and speaks at conferences and retreats nationally and internationally. From 2010 to 2017 Kathleen served as Director of The Gospel Coalition’s Women’s Initiatives. Recent years have brought increasing global involvement, both in Indonesia along with her husband and in Europe, where she helps lead a ministry program for French-speaking women.
For over four decades Kathleen has been joyfully married to her husband Niel. They share a heart for students — both at Covenant College where Niel served as president 2002-2012, and at other educational institutions they visit in their speaking roles. Niel helps lead a network of Christian schools and universities in Indonesia and serves on several for-profit and not-for-profit boards.
Kathleen and Niel make their home base in Wheaton, Illinois. They have three grown sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, and nine grandchildren—and they are privileged to care for Kathleen’s mother as well. Kathleen loves any kind of family time . . . playing with and reading to her eight granddaughters and one grandson . . . being part of her home church’s Bible study . . . enjoying long conversation around a dinner table . . . travel . . . seeing the church at work in other cultures . . . reading . . . walking . . . stopping to talk over a cup of coffee or tea.