Karla M. Alvarado Keppel is a collaborative mission and formation leader who grounds her work in the Catholic social tradition, forming diverse groups to deepen connections to the Sacred, cultivate meaning and purpose, and deepen vocational understanding. Authentic community, generative hospitality, and the goofy playfulness of her spouse and children are among those which bring her the most joy.

As a Los Angeles, Ca native who now resides in Saint Louis, Mo, she brings her experience as a Mexican-American woman to all she does. After a year teaching high-school Spanish at an all-boys Catholic high school, she quickly realized her gifts were better suited elsewhere. Thus, she accompanied college students as Assistant Chaplain and Director of Immersion at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Ma until 2018.

Currently, she serves as the Associate Director for Mission Services at the Catholic Health Association of the United States. At CHA, she oversees prayer, worship and liturgy for the organization’s virtual and in-person programs across the country. In addition, she authors and manages the development, presentation, and facilitation of prayer and spiritual formation resources for the CHA Prayer Library and other special liturgical commemorations. She has undergraduate degrees in English and Spanish Literature from Loyola Marymount University and graduate degrees in Pastoral Ministry Theology and Counseling Psychology from Boston College.