From HTI's Executive Director
For underrepresented scholars forging new paths in theological and religious education, meaningful impact rarely happens overnight. It is cultivated through diligence, wisdom, and persistence. Most often, it unfolds quietly over time—until it emerges in innovative work that serves communities, academic institutions, and inspires what comes next.
In this issue, you are invited into stories of formation and faithful presence: KMarie Tejeda's historic role as a military chaplain; guidance for scholars completing their dissertations; scholarship nurtured through friendship at La Comunidad; the celebration of Rev. Dr. Cristian De La Rosa, recipient of the HTI Alumni of Impact Award; a reflection marking HTI's 30th Anniversary; and coverage of the 35th anniversary gathering for Rev. Dr. Justo L. González's book, Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective.
These stories offer hope both for the present and the future—advancing the ecology of theological and religious education through accompaniment, resilience, and fiesta in a period of much despair and division.
We invite you to read on—and to be a partner in this journey.
Logros: Community Milestones
Tap a category to explore HTI scholars' achievements
Click on the picture for more information about the scholar's field of study and denominational affiliation.
Michelle Navarrete has successfully passed her comprehensive exams at Emory University. ¡Felicidades!
René Velarde, At Fuller Theological Seminary, students complete their proposal before taking exams. René Velarde has now successfully passed his comprehensive exams and is officially ABD (All But Dissertation) and ready to begin writing his dissertation. ¡Felicidades!
Click on the picture for more information about the scholar's field of study and denominational affiliation.
Click on the picture for more information about the scholar's field of study and denominational affiliation.
Dr. José Santana of Southern Methodist University successfully defended his dissertation on December 2. Titled "Slave Servants and Saved Souls: Jesuit Evangelization and the Development of Afro-Catholic Mission, 1605–1654," his work examines Jesuit evangelization and Afro-Catholic mission development. He currently serves as Product Manager for Academic Books at Westminster John Knox Press.
On December 10, Dr. Daniel Montañez of Boston University defended his dissertation, "El Movimiento del Espíritu: Towards an Undocumented Latino Pentecostal Social Ethic on (Im)migration." He is the founder and director of the Mygration Christian Conference.
Click on the picture for more information about the scholar's field of study and denominational affiliation.
Congratulations to Dr. Néstor Medina on his appointment to the Louisville Institute Advisory Board! We celebrate his leadership, scholarship, and ministry as he helps guide and support the Institute's work.
HTI congratulates Dr. Altagracia Perez Bullard, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, on earning tenure at Virginia Theological Seminary!
Congratulations to Dr. Jean-Pierre M. Ruiz on being elected Vice-President of the Society of Biblical Literature at its November 2025 Annual Meeting in Boston! He began his term on January 1, 2026, and will assume the presidency on January 1, 2027.
Felicidades to Dr. Lloyd Barba on earning tenure at Amherst College! After three years as a postdoctoral fellow—a rare step at the same institution—and six years as an assistant professor, he is now Associate Professor of Religion.
HTI extends a warm congratulations to Rev. Dr. Bridgett Green on her appointment as President and Publisher of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
Felicidades to Dr. Roberto Chao Romero on his promotion to full professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)! This milestone celebrates his innovative scholarship in religious studies and his commitment to justice, community, and groundbreaking research in Chicana/o, Central American, and Latina/o Studies.
HTI celebrates Dr. Joao Chaves who has been promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in the Religion Department at Baylor University. Parabéns!
HTI congratulates Dr. Jorge Juan Rodriguez on his promotion to Deputy Executive Director at the Hispanic Scholars Program!
Rev. Dr. Daisy Machado has been a pioneer in theological education throughout her distinguished career. She served as the first Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative in 1996 and became the first Latina dean at both Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She also faithfully served the Hispanic Scholars Program for two terms, most recently for thirteen years. Her lifelong commitment to theological education has left an indelible mark on the field, and we are deeply grateful for her enduring contributions to the wider scholarly and ecclesial community. As she enters retirement, we celebrate her remarkable legacy and wish her every blessing in the years ahead.
Click on the picture for more information about the scholar's field of study and denominational affiliation.
HTI congratulates Fernando Berwig Silva on receiving Southern Methodist University's Outstanding Graduate Student Instruction Award. Parabéns!
Congratulations to Christian Latina Leadership Institute (CLLI) founded by Dr. Nora Lozano, on receiving the Traditioned Innovation Award from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity! This recognition celebrates initiatives that transform communities by living out the convictions of an ancient faith in today's challenging circumstances. ¡Felicidades!
Featured Stories
Making History in Uniform
HTI Scholar KMarie Tejeda makes history as the first full-time chaplain in the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard.
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From Friendship to Flourishing Scholarship
Featuring Dr. Christopher Tirres' latest work, La Comunidad's book panel brought together HTI alumni and partners to engage in thoughtful discourse.
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The Dissertation Is 'Finishable'
Practical tips and encouragement from HTI editors and scholars for those navigating the challenging (but finishable) dissertation writing journey.
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Beyond the Academy
Rev. Dr. Cristian De La Rosa on receiving the HTI Alumni of Impact Award and her journey of ministry, scholarship, and community.
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Thirty Years of "So What?"
As HTI marks its 30th Anniversary, Executive Director Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodríguez reflects on the question that has followed the program for decades — and the answer that 30 years of impact have made undeniable.
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Tomorrow Is Now
What does it mean to speak of tomorrow when communities are navigating a difficult today? HTI scholars and mentors gathered at Candler School of Theology to mark 35 years of Mañana.
Read the Full StoryHTI Open Plaza
HTI Open Plaza is a place where scholars engage diverse clergy, activists, artists, and thinkers in the public square to wrestle with questions about faith, justice, identity, and the sacred in the everyday.
Subscribe on Spotify or Apple to receive the most recent podcasts.
Faith, Justice, and Immigration
Rev. Milly Aquije joins her mentors, Rev. Maritza and Rev. Dr. Orlando Crespo, for a conversation on faith, identity, and the realities of immigration and belonging.
Listen & Reflect'The Border is the Cross': Jornada por la Justicia
Dr. Jeremy Cruz and Dr. Victor Carmona embark on a pilgrimage for justice
Read the Full VisionSanctuary People
Dr. Felipe Hinojosa talks with Dr. Gina M. Pérez about her recent book, what galvanizes sanctuary movements, and what commitment to community organizing and faith-based activism looks like
Listen & ReflectNewly Published Books
A Peircean Reimagining of Thomas Moore's Spirituality: Pragmatic Soul
by Dr. Nathan Garcia
Dr. Nathan Garcia offers a fresh, practical, and intellectually rigorous approach to Thomas Moore's work, using Charles Sanders Peirce's pragmatism to bridge soulfulness with real-world engagement. His tripartite "soulful anthropology" integrates introspection, social dialogue, and public action, creating a framework for 21st-century spiritual practice.
Learn More & Purchase →
Between Dung and Blood: Purity, Sainthood, and Power in the Early Modern Western Mediterranean
by Dr. Manuela Ceballos
Dr. Manuela Ceballos offers a compelling study of two sixteenth-century saints—Spanish Christian Teresa de Jesús and Moroccan Sufi Sīdī Riḍwān al-Januwī—exploring how blood and bodily pollution shaped religious, social, and political life in the early modern Western Mediterranean.
Learn More & Purchase →
Politicking in the Barrio: Essays on Latino Politics in New York
by Elieser Valentin (January 28, 2026)
This book offers an episodic view of Latino politics in New York from 2017 to 2025—a period of both dramatic political flux and unprecedented Latino demographic growth.
Learn More & Purchase →Opportunities & Events
Call for Papers: La Comunidad 2026 Annual Meeting
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI), La Comunidad invites paper proposals that reflect on the evolving impact of Latine scholarship.
Contact: Please send proposals to session conveners Elaine Nogueira-Godsey (enogueiragodsey@drew.edu) and Hector Varela Rios (hvarelar@villanova.edu).
Learn MoreSubmit Your Work: 2026 AAR Awards Open Now
The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is now accepting submissions for eight prestigious awards recognizing excellence in the study and public understanding of religion.
Application Deadline: March 9, 2026, 6:00 PM (EST)
Learn More →
Submit a Proposal: Exploring Christian Practices Initiative (Lilly Endowment)
Grants of up to $2.5 million available for projects lasting up to five years, with emphasis on reaching diverse communities through innovative programs.
Deadline: Full proposals due May 18, 2026
Learn More →
Submit a Proposal: Barbara Wheeler Fellowship (Auburn Seminary)
Supports scholars conducting research on theological education. Fellows may receive financial support of up to $20,000.
Deadline: March 20, 2026
Learn More →
Celebrations
We celebrate together because joy is meant to be shared:
Engagements
- • Adriana Rivera, who recently got engaged to their partner, Jordan
- • Natalie Readnour, on her recent engagement to Parker
Baby Announcements
- • Ulrike Guthrie, on the arrival of her grandson, George
- • Dr. Thomas Flores, on the arrival of his granddaughter, Maya Kay
- • Luis De Prada, on the birth of his son, Luca Jiovanni De Prada
For Prayer
We hold each other up. Here are members of our familia who need our prayers:
- • Eric Villalobos, on the passing of his grandmother
- • Fernando Berwig Silva, as his father faces illness
- • Dr. Raúl Gómez-Ruiz, on the passing of his brother-in-law, Henry
- • Dr. Theresa Yugar, on the passing of her uncle, Father Chris Ponnet
- • Dr. Teresa Delgado, on the passing of her father, Gregory Delgado
- • Dr. Adrian Emmanuel Hernandez-Acosta, on the passing of his aunt, Tía Letty
- • The community of Wheaton College on the passing of Dr. Daniel Treier, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Theology
Support the Next Generation
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