Katherine Parker
UMC Global Missionary to Nepal
Katherine is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The
United Methodist Church serving as a Health and Community Transformation
Advisor with the United Mission to Nepal (UMN). The UMN has been supported
by the Methodist Church since its founding 65 years ago.
Native to California, Katherine comes from a family with deep roots in United
Methodism on the West Coast. Two grandfathers, a great-grandfather, an aunt,
and several cousins have served as United Methodist clergy.
Katherine attended Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, where she
graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Her Master of Science degree,
also in biology, is from California State University in Sacramento. Her thesis was
on bacterial contamination of drinking water in rural Ghana.
In August 2000 after completing college, Katherine began service as a Mission
Intern with Global Ministries’ Young Adult Program. Her overseas assignment, as
part of that program, was with the Asian Rural Institute in Japan. After 16 months
Katherine returned to the United States to serve with the Practical Farmers of
Iowa to complete her Mission Intern service in May 2003.
Before serving in Nepal, she was in Cambodia with the Community Health and
Agricultural Development Program of the Methodist mission there.
In Cambodia, Katherine was involved in organizational development of the Social
Concerns Committee of the emerging Methodist Church in Cambodia.
Katherine began serving in 2013 as part of the Health Team of the United
Mission to Nepal as a Health and Community Transformation Advisor focusing
on water, sanitation, and hygiene. She is now serving on the leadership team as
a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Advisor.
Katherine’s home church is Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill
Valley, California.