She completed her Ph.D. in health, physical education, and recreation, with a concentration in sport administration from the University of New Mexico. Grappendorf was a coeditor (with Mary A. Hums and Glenna G. Bower) of, as well as writer of several chapters in, the book Women as Leaders in Sport: Impact and Influence. Grappendorf has also authored and coauthored numerous journal articles. Further, she is vice president for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. Her research interests include the reasons for the under-representation of women in sport leadership, with a particular emphasis on role congruity theory.