The Rev. Mindy Smith to Serve as Director of Church Engagement

Whitworth University is pleased to announce the Rev. Mindy Smith, D.Min., has been appointed permanent director of church engagement in the university’s Office of Church Engagement. Smith had been serving as OCE’s interim director since June 2020. 

As interim director, Smith guided the OCE and its church partners through the unique stresses of COVID-19, while securing a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment focused on building church resilience. 

”Mindy's extensive background in ministry, her love of the church, and her commitment to Whitworth's mission make her an outstanding leader for the OCE," said Rev. Terry McGonigal, Smith’s predecessor.

Smith graduated from Whitworth in 1998. She went on to earn her master of divinity in 2006 from Princeton Theological Seminary. Two years later, she received a call to serve as campus pastor at Whitworth, a position she held for ten years.

Smith received her doctor of ministry degree from Portland Seminary and became the associate director in the OCE in June 2018. Her many duties in that position included directing the Whitworth Ministry Summit, which took place at the end of June each year, and coordinating the Calling Community program. These communities are distinct groups within the network of partner churches, each focused on different areas in which their church is committed to grow and learn.

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Alexis Perry, assistant director of communications, Whitworth University Office of Church Engagement, aperry@whitworth.edu or (509)777-4439

Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu