HTI Staff

Joanne Rodríguez

Executive Director

Rev. Joanne Rodríguez is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, since 2011. From 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 that make an impact in theological and religious education as well as in the larger landscape of education. Rev. Rodríguez received her Th.M. (2002) and M.Div. (1999) from Princeton Theological Seminary, and her B.A. (1986) from Pace University. She is a teaching elder at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

Email: Joanne.Rodriguez@ptsem.edu

Ángela Schoepf

Assistant Director

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

João Chaves

Assistant Director for Programming

A native of Brazil, João brings to the HTI team a unique combination of experiences in the church, academia, and business world. Over the last two decades, he planted and led churches, taught college classes, and managed businesses in the hospitality, food, and construction industries. João graduated with an MTS from George W. Truett Theological Seminary and received his Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University. He has presented and published his research broadly both in English and Portuguese. His academic articles were published by peer-reviewed journals such as The International Journal of Latin American Religions, The Journal of Reformed Theology, Political Theology, Perspectives in Religious Studies, and Baptist History and Heritage Journal. João has served as the Unit Chair for Latinx Religions at the AAR Southwest since 2018 and is currently a member of the Commission on Racial, Gender, and Economic Justice of the Baptist World Alliance, 2020-2025 Quinquennium. He is the author of the books Evangelicals and Liberation Revisited (Wipf and Stock, 2013), O Racismo na História Batista Brasileira (Novos Diálogos, 202), and Migrational Religion: Context and Creativity in the Latinx Diaspora (Baylor University Press, 2021). João is also finalizing two additional manuscripts, The Global Mission of the Jim Crow South (Mercer University Press, forthcoming 2022) and Southern Missions, Christian Education, and Violence Across Borders (under consideration with University of Tennessee Press).

Email: joao.chaves@ptsem.edu

Suzette Aloyo

Office Assistant

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

Noreen Santos

Database Research Assistant

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.

Email: Noreen.Santos@ptsem.edu

Carlos Acosta

Student Aide

Carlos Acosta is a senior MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary. Carlos was raised in Carson, California, and is of Mexican-American descent. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Upon graduating, Carlos hopes to pursue a ThM, and eventually a PhD, so that he can teach biblical studies in higher-education. Carlos is especially grateful to be part of the HTI family because it allows him the opportunity to simultaneously contribute-to and benefit-from the reservoir of scholarly excellence the Hispanic/Latinx community proudly boasts.

Amanda Calderon

Student Aide

Amanda Calderon is a second-year MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary. Being born and raised in Philadelphia PA, Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Temple University. She has loved being part of the HTI family this past year and hopes to work in education in the Latinx Community.

Isabel Gonzalez

Student Aide

Isabel is a second-year MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary. She comes from Reading, Pennsylvania and graduated from Messiah University with a bachelor’s in Biblical and Religious Studies and English. Prior to working as a student aide, Isabel worked with HTI during the Professional Development Conference for several years. Her connection to the HTI staff solidified her decision to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. Isabel hopes to contribute to empowering the Latinx community through her work at HTI.

Mavet Sarai Mendez

Student Aide

Mavet Sarai Mendez is a second-year MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary. She was raised in Plainfield, New Jersey, and is of Guatemalan descent. Sarai received her bachelor’s in Psychology from Kean University and is hoping to work in the mental health field within the Latines community. Sarai’s faith is integral to her vocational and ministry formation as a long-standing leader within the life of the church. Sarai enjoys being a part of the HTI familia and is excited to learn more about her community and the different ways in which Latines voices are being used.