Executive Director

Nikki Toyama‑Szeto

Nikki helps Christians have a faith-fueled engagement with the world’s most challenging issues. Before coming to CSA in 2017, she served in leadership positions at International Justice Mission, the Urbana Conference and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She loves working with communities around the world, whether through scripture, thoughtful reflection on leadership, or stirring the spiritual imagination.

Nikki writes on justice, leadership, gender issues and racial justice for various magazines, and she serves as a “Leading Voice” for the Missio Alliance. She’s the host of the podcast, “20 Minute Takes”. Her work was profiled on NPR’s “On Point,” Outreach Magazine’s Leadership Issue (Sept. 2017, Cover), Religion and Politics (Aug. 2018), Christianity Today’s “Who’s Next?” and Rejuvenate Magazine’s “40 under 40.”

She is a co-editor of the book More than Serving Tea (IVP, 2006), a collection of essays, stories and poems looking at the intersection of race, gender, and faith for Asian American women. She also co-wrote Partnering with the Global Church (IVP, 2012) with Femi Adeleye and edited the Urbana Onward series. She is a co- author of The God of Justice: IJM Institute’s Global Church Curriculum (IVP, 2015).

She has a mechanical engineering degree from Stanford University and completed her masters in organizational leadership at Eastern University, studying in South Africa. Nikki resides in the DC metro area with her family.

As an experienced speaker, writer, and trainer, Nikki pulls from her experiences as a leader in organizations like Christians for Social Action, International Justice Mission, the Urbana Conference, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Nikki writes and speaks on faith, justice, leadership, gender issues and racial justice. Her work was featured on the cover of Outreach Magazine‘s leadership issue (Sept. 2017). She’s spoken in various domestic and international settings (Philippines, Nepal, Guatemala, and Peru).

Nikki’s speaking topics include:

God of justice
Leadership, including the particularities for women and people of color
Issues like immigration and refugees, poverty, global church partnership
Organizational culture

Notable Main Stage speaking engagements include: Lausanne’s Global Workplace Forum, Philippines (2019); Tearfund’s Thinking Theology, Nepal (2016); Esdras Center, Guatemala (2016); Christian Community Development Association (2016); Simply Youth Ministries (2016); Freedom Summit—Underground Railroad Museum (2015); Missio Nexus Leaders Conference (2014); Synergy Women’s Conference (2011); Urbana (2003).

If your organization is in need of a speaker, please contact us!