Kathy received a B.A. in Theology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington; a Masters in Religious Education from Fordham University; and a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Gonzaga. She is a former director of L'Arche Spokane, which is part of an international network of communities for developmentally disabled adults and assistants who live and work with them. She was also formerly director of formation at Mater Dei Institute, a ministry formation program for graduate students at Gonzaga University.