For Me, Growing Up Didn’t Always Feel Safe.
When I stepped on campus, I just knew this was where I belonged,” Kaylee Skelley ’08, ’25 says.
As a child in Spokane, Washington, attending a Nazarene church with her family, Kaylee vividly remembers accepting Christ every Sunday out of fear that she had somehow lost her salvation during the week. “I thought if I sinned, I had to be saved again,” she says. It wasn’t until sixth grade, when her grandparents began attending a Grace Gospel Fellowship (GGF) church, that she began to see a different side of faith, one that emphasized the security of salvation through Christ alone.
The following summer, at a camp in July 1997, Kaylee truly met Jesus. Amidst the challenges of a turbulent home life, her relationship with Christ deepened and she found a hope and security she had not known before. That same thread of security would later draw her to Grace Christian University.
Though she can’t recall exactly how she first heard about Grace, Kaylee remembers that as early as fourth grade, she dreamed of attending Grace Bible College. Throughout high school, that dream developed as she attended Berean Church, where Doug Kessler ’83 and Brad Bruszer ’95, ’98 were youth pastors and Dr. Kemper ’85 occasionally visited. Despite her mother encouraging her to look elsewhere, Kaylee’s heart was set. A campus visit solidified it; she immediately sensed that Grace was a place where she would feel safe, valued, and wanted.
More Than Academics
Initially, Kaylee set out for an associate degree in business. She completed her two years, but during a sleepless summer night after her second year, she clearly felt God urging her to finish her degree.
The next morning, she met with Linda Siler ’67 in the registrar’s office, registered for classes just a week before they started, and ultimately graduated with an associate’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in human services. Now she could help kids who had faced difficult situations like her own.
Kaylee’s years at Grace were rich with growth, community, and life-changing experiences. Bible classes with Professor Phil Long ’87 were “epic” and Dr. Jan Schregardus left a lasting impression. But it was Dr. Shaw who impacted her the most, not only academically but personally. She recalls group counseling classes that sometimes met at Applebee’s, and a final exam that took place over a home-cooked dinner at Dr. Shaw’s house. “It wasn’t just academics, it was real life and applying those skills,” Kaylee says.
Spiritual disciplines also took root during her time at Grace. Through chapel, small groups, and church involvement, she developed a lifelong commitment to not only being fed spiritually but also serving others. And somewhere in between classes and chapels, she was getting to know Adam Skelley ’08, ’25. They met at freshman orientation and spent time together at Grace Adventures. They dated for two years, were engaged for two more, and married shortly after graduating in 2008.
A Life of Service
Life moved quickly. The couple relocated to Arizona and Kaylee and Adam both found jobs. Kaylee first worked with children with disabilities, then moved into high-needs case management. But the emotional toll of that work led her to seek a different way to serve. She transitioned into higher education, working at Grand Canyon University, where she discovered a new passion: helping students discover their callings and futures.
Throughout her career, Kaylee has always viewed her work as ministry. Whether serving children or college students she sees each role as an opportunity to be a light for Christ. “I always knew I wanted to serve,” Kaylee says. “Grace helped solidify that through opportunities to serve at church, in the community, and through internships. It doesn’t always have to look the same, the heart behind it is the same.”
Today, Kaylee serves as the Director of Online Admissions for Grace Christian University, while Adam works as a business analyst and leads the multimedia team at their church. Their life has been full of unexpected turns, especially when their second daughter was born with significant medical issues. But through every season, God has been faithful.
Still Being Written
Looking back, Kaylee hopes the legacy she leaves is simple.
“My mission is to be a light and make a difference, to reflect Christ and not myself. ”To current students, Kaylee says, “Don’t get discouraged. Trust God’s plan. We often think we know our trajectory, but God is in control.”
Now, Kaylee and Adam have both completed master’s degree programs at Grace and graduated in 2025. Kaylee earned an MA in Higher Education Leadership and Adam, a Master’s of Business Administration. Their oldest daughter plans to attend Grace as well, a testament to the lasting impact Grace Christian University has had on her family. “Always keep growing,” she says. “Keep asking God, ‘What else do you have for me?’”
For Kaylee and Adam, their story is still being written. But one thing is certain: through every chapter, Grace has been, and will continue to be, a vital part of their journey.
About the Author: Stephanie Maendel ’26 is a Communication & Christian Studies student at Grace Christian University. She’s passionate about missions and inspiring her generation to live out the Great Commission. After graduation, she hopes to pursue ministry and community outreach, serving and empowering individuals and families locally and globally.
