Faculty Page
Rachel Christensen, MPA
MPA, San Diego State University
BA, International Studies, Point Loma Nazarene University
Certificate in Transborder Opportunities, University of San Diego
Rachel Christensen is Director of Northwind Institute’s Social Innovation and Ministry Certificate Program and Instructor in Faith Based Social Innovation.
Beyond Northwind, Rachel is the Assistant Director of Programs for The Brink Small Business Development Center at the University of San Diego. She has worked with young social entrepreneurs entrepreneurial training, and micro, small and social businesses since 2012, helping them learn and grow through education and training, access to capital, and connecting with other founders. In 2018, she was part of the leadership team that took University of San Diego's Social Innovation Challenge global, becoming the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge that now trains and funds young entrepreneurs from 14 countries worldwide.
Rachel has a BA in International Studies, a Master's degree in Public Administration, and is Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the bi-national non-profit Create Purpose. A member of the United Methodist Church, she delights in integrating her faith with her passion for social innovation and crossing borders (see her TEDx talk on “Beyond Your Borders” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hxnp4eo0bY )