About Grace Kao
Ethicist | Writer | Teacher
Grace Kao (she/her) is an award-winning professor at Claremont School of Theology.
For the past two decades, she has been teaching, writing, and speaking about Christian ethics, feminism, human rights and human-animal relations, and Asian America.
Her latest book, My Body, Their Baby: A Progressive Christian Vision for Surrogacy, won the 2024 silver medal in theology from the Illumination Book Awards and was named a 2024 Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE. She has also been recognized for teaching excellence at three institutions at which she has worked.
A second generation Taiwanese American, Dr. Kao earned co-terminal BA/MA degrees in philosophy and religious studies from Stanford University and a PhD in religion from Harvard University.
She lives in Southern California with her husband, two biracial sons, and pandemic cat.
Books
Highlights
After starting her career in 2003 as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Tech, Dr. Kao eventually became the first Asian American woman to have been tenured, promoted to full professor, and then named the inaugural Bishop Roy I. Sano and Kathleen A. Thomas-Sano Professor of Pacific and Asian American Theology at Claremont School of Theology.
Books or Edited Volumes
Published Articles or Essays
Teaching Awards
Academic Talks
Her Scholarship Has Been Funded By
“Drawing on her own experience both as a surrogate and a Christian theologian, Kao makes a powerful and rigorously argued Christian ethical case for surrogacy. A valuable resource for parents, pastors, and all concerned with reproduction and its ethical implications.”
– Susan A. Ross, Loyola University Chicago, Past President of the Catholic Theological Society of America
Her Teaching Awards
2 Certificates of Distinction in Teaching (2000) at Harvard University
Certificate of Teaching Excellence (2005-6) at Virginia Tech
Faculty Teaching Award (2010-11) &
Fischer Teaching Award (2016-17) at Claremont School. of Theology
Her Editorial Boards
Dr. Kao has served, or is serving, on the editorial/advisory boards of these journals:
Journal of Religious Ethics
Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics
Syndicate Theology
Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Relgion
Her Other Professional Service
Dr. Kao has held, or is holding, organizational leadership in these orgs:
Founder and Co-convener of the Animal Ethics Interest Group (2015-22)
Board of Directors (2012-15)
(Inaugural) Co-Convener of the Asian and Asian American Working Group (2008-11)
Committee on Professional Conduct (2023-present)
Women of Color Scholarship, Teaching & Activism Steering Committee (2015-18)
Animals and Religion Steering Committee (2013-18)
Law, Religion & Culture Steering Committee (2005-09)
Board of Directors (2019-present)
Publicity Committee (2024-present)
Mentoring & Education Committee (2019-2024)
Board of Advisors (2014-18)
Managing Board Member (2022-present)
Planning Team (2017-18)
Board Member & Secretary (2023-present)
Invite Grace to Speak at Your Event!
Professor Kao keeps an active speaking schedule and enjoys interacting with audiences ranging from undergrads to seminarians at institutions of higher learning to church gatherings, book clubs, women’s groups, and other community events.
Press Inquiries
Adam Schnitzer, Marketing & Sales Director
aschnitzer@stanford.edu
Mailing Address
Claremont School of Theology
10497 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
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