Kristen White
Professor and Chair of International Studies
Intercultural Studies, Pre-Law, International Studies

Part of Belhaven since 2016

Contact Info
601-973-5021

Education

  • B.A., Oklahoma Baptist University
  • M.A., Union University
  • M.A., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University

Kristen White is the chair and associate professor of international and intercultural studies at Belhaven University.

Previously, she served as the Director of Mobilization at California Baptist University where she mobilized and trained more than 400 students, staff, and faculty annually to participate in International Service Projects. In her 10-year tenure at CBU from 2005-2015, she sent out about 3,500 participants on more than 300 teams and also taught intercultural communication and introduction to global studies.

Although currently residing in Jackson, Mississippi, she is an Oklahoman at heart. After graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1997, she served as a Journeyman with the International Mission Board for two years in East Asia, where she studied Mandarin and taught English.

Upon returning to the states in 2000, she relocated to San Francisco for five years where she completed two master's degrees – one in Theological Studies and one in Intercultural Studies – while working at both Golden Gate Seminary on behalf of Union University as the Global Studies Program Coordinator and at First Baptist Church as the Director of Global Ministries.

She has traveled to 45 countries. At Magnolia Church in California, she served on the College and Global Ministry Teams. While serving as a trustee for the International Mission Board from 2011-2016, she served as chair for Central Asia Peoples and served on the 2014 Presidential Search Team that called David Platt.

In 2016, she completed her PhD in Higher Education at Claremont Graduate University. Her dissertation research was titled International Service-Learning: Faculty Engagement and Transformation. Kristen's ministry calling is to train and equip God's people for acts of good service throughout the world.

Scholarly Contributions

    • “International Service-Learning: Faculty Engagement and Transformation.” Belhaven University. Jackson, MS. February 2020.

    • Keynote speaker: “Path of Most Resistance: Navigating Barriers for Kingdom Purpose.” University Educators for Global Engagement. Richmond, VA. April 2019.

    • Poster Session. University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE). Richmond, VA. April 2019.

    • “International Service-Learning: Faculty Engagement and Transformation.” International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE). New Orleans, LA. July 2018.

    • Poster Session. University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE). Richmond, VA. April 2018.

    • “Kingdom Professional Model.” University Educators for Global Engagement. Richmond, VA. April 2018.

    • “Developing Kingdom Professionals through Global Engagement.” Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) International Forum. Dallas, TX. February 2018. Presented with Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs.

    • “Kingdom Professional Model.” University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE). Richmond, VA. April 2017. Presented with Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs.

    • “Equipping Equippers.” UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2016. Presented with Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs.

    •  “Mentoring Team Leaders.” UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2015.

    •  “Short-Term Healthcare Opportunities.” Global Health Conference. Riverside, CA. April 2015.

    • “From Just a ‘Trip’ To Discipleship Training.” UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2014.

    • “Following People.” Christian College Leadership Conference. Riverside, CA. April 2014.

    • “Debriefing Experiential Learning.” UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2011. Presented with Dr. Cynthia Jayne.

    • “Collegiate Disaster Relief Training.” UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2011. Presented with Melody Harper.

    • “Risk Assessment and Management.” Consortium for Global Education. Union University. September 2010.

    •  Conference organizer and keynote speaker. UEGE. Richmond, VA. April 2010.

    • Conference organizer and keynote speaker. California Collegiate Mobilizer Network. Vanguard University. November 2009.

    • "Academics on Mission." Consortium for Global Education. Dallas Baptist University. September 2009. Presented with Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs.

    • “The Green Experiment: Combining Academic Discipline & Spiritual Purpose for Global Impact.” Christians on Diversity in the Academy. Azusa Pacific University. March 2009. Presented with Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs.

Certifications

  • Perspectives on the World Christian Movement o Student – 2018
    Coordinator – 2018
    Instructor – 2020

  • Community Emergency Rescue Training (CERT)

  • Disaster Relief Training by California Southern Baptists and Baptist Global Response

  • Contingency Training (A, B, and C levels) by Fort Sherman Academy

  • Teaching English as a Second Language

  • Coaching by Fielding Graduate University

Organizations

  • University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE)

  • The National Society of Leadership and Success

Volunteer Service

University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE) Leadership President

  • Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

    • Perspectives Area Coordinator

    • Perspectives Course Coordinator

  • Pinelake Church, MS

    • Global Ministry Team

    • College Ministry Team

  • Trustee: International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

    • Central Asia Committee Chair

    • Presidential Search Team

Travel Experience

  • Traveled to 51 countries to establish global partnerships and to lead short-term volunteer teams.

  • Resided in China for two years while becoming conversant in Mandarin Chinese and teaching English.

  • Conducted ethnographic research in India for six weeks with Union University.