HTI Staff

Joanne Rodríguez

Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodríguez is Executive Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA. Since 1999, she has worked collaboratively with students, faculty, deans, directors of non-profit educational programs, and presidents to ensure that HTI doctoral students complete their doctoral studies and become leaders who make an impact in theological and religious education as well as in the larger landscape of education. Rev. Dr. Rodríguez holds an honorary doctorate from the Iliff School of Theology, where she also served as the Commencement Speaker for the class of 2024; ThM and MDiv degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary; and a BA from Pace University. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) honored her with a 2024 Women in Leadership Trailblazer. She is a teaching elder at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

Email: Joanne.Rodriguez@ptsem.edu

Executive Director

 

Ángela Schoepf

A native Colombian, Ángela joined HTI in 1999, after a career working for multinational companies. The transition required a bit of adjustment, but soon Ángela developed a deep passion for HTI’s mission, through the stories of the now more than 160 scholars she has worked for. Ángela is a graduate of Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca and Institución Universitaria Politécnico Grancolombiano, with Bachelor’s degrees in business and languages and computer sciences. She sees in each one of the graduates a role model for her daughter.

Email: Angela.Schoepf@ptsem.edu

Associate Director of Operations

 

Vanessa Ríos-Valentín

Vanessa Ríos-Valentín is a Humanist Chaplain and Celebrant with over two decades of experience as an educator, conference speaker, and training instructor. Additionally, she has worked as a hospice chaplain and a crisis counselor. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Montclair State University, Master of Divinity with specialization in Chaplaincy from Claremont School of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology specializing in Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Vanessa aspires to carry out HTI’s mission of cultivating Latine scholars with a wholistic approach focusing on community, education, and mental health.

Email: Vanessa.RiosValentin@ptsem.edu

       Assistant Director of Programming

Suzette Aloyo

Suzette Aloyo, a descendent of Puerto Rican parents, grew up in the Bronx, New York.  The majority of Suzette’s career was spent in the legal field.  First as a paralegal in corporations then 13 years in a prominent NY law firm working on trusts & estates, corporate and labor law.  Moving to the Princeton area in 2000, Suzette has been aware and a part of the Princeton Theological Seminary community through her husband, Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr.  Over the past seventeen years, Suzette has also served as administrative assistant and office manager at a couple of area organizations. She looks forward to bringing to HTI her talents and skill set to further the objectives of the program.

Email: Suzette.Aloyo@ptsem.edu

Office Coordinator

Isabel Gonzalez
Isabel Gonzalez graduated with her MDiv at Princeton Theological Seminary.  She is originally from Reading, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Biblical Religious Studies and English at Messiah University in 2020. Driven by her passion for research and writing, Isabel strives to honor and celebrate the stories of Latine leaders and scholars in higher education! She hopes to fulfill this work through her role as Communications Liaison at HTI and her own pursuit of a PhD in the future. 

Email:  Isabel.Gonazalez@ptsem.edu

Communications Liaison

Nicole Naidoo

Nicole grew up in Hillsborough, NJ and always had a love for communications and the arts. She transitioned to a career as a controller for a small company and joined HTI in 2024 as accounting coordinator. Nicole is committed to HTI’s mission and is looking forward to working together  to further advance the values and goals. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and dog Teddy.

Accounting Coordinator

Julianna Rivera

Julianna Rivera is from Inglewood, California and was raised in a Guatemalan household. She obtained her BA in Business administration from Vanguard University. She was involved in the Student Government Association at Vanguard in her role as Director of Academic and Student Success as well as being an administrative intern at a church in California. With a deep passion for supporting those who feel called to serve both in the church and in academia, Julianna is compelled to be a bridge in the formation of this important work. With a heart for helping others grow in their faith and knowledge, she hopes to continue empowering individuals to pursue their calling and make an impact in these vital areas.

Office Assistant

Noreen Santos

Noreen Santos, who is Puerto Rican, was born and raised in the Bronx, New York.  Graduating with a BS in Business Administration, Noreen worked as a programmer/analyst, 13 years in NYC’s Financial District. Always involved in church from young, she accepted God’s calling on her life to enter Princeton Theological Seminary obtaining her MDiv in ’02. Afterward, she served the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer of East Brooklyn as pastor for 16 years. As the church experience ended, seeking God’s guidance brought her back to familiar ground, Hispanic Theological Seminary where she worked as a student aide while enrolled at PTS. She looks forward to working with the HTI in meeting their goals.

Database Research Assistant

HTI STUDENT AIDES

Jasmin Gonzalez

Jasmin Gonzalez is a Senior in her MDiv program at Princeton Theological Seminary. She was born and raised in the Central Valley of California and attended Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. Jasmin has her BA in Biblical Studies and Theology and hopes to continue in higher education through research and teaching. She aspires to bridge her context, including her Hispanic heritage, with the world around her and is excited to acquire new skills for doing so while working at HTI.

Josh Jimenez

Josh Jimenez is a first year MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary. He received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish from Rollins College. Josh recently spent a year as a church volunteer in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where he worked in a K-12 academy. He looks forward to furthering his theological education and supporting HTI’s efforts during his time at PTS.

Sergio Rodriguez

Sergio Rodriguez is a Master of Divinity candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary. He was raised in Gainesville, Georgia in a Salvadoran immigrant household. He received his bachelor’s degree in Theology with a concentration in Pastoral Leadership from Vanguard University in Southern California. Sergio graduated magna cum laude and was honored with the Outstanding Student in Pastoral Leadership award. Driven by his passion for service, creativity, and education, Sergio strives to serve as a bridge of empowerment for those in marginalized, overlooked, and underserved communities. His goal is to be a voice for the voiceless and a listening ear for the unheard. Sergio plans to pursue a PhD and he is excited to work with HTI in empowering current and future scholars, as they pursue their service for the mosaic of humanity.