![](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Color-Bar-Solid-1.png)
HTI Early Career Orientation Program
HTI began the Early Career Orientation program with a generous grant provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc.
![](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Color-Bar-Solid-1.png)
Graduates
2018
![Lauren Frances Guerra](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lauren_Frances_Guerra.jpg)
Lauren Frances Guerra
Lecturer, Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
(2018)
![Leo Guardado](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Leo-Guardado-pic.jpg)
Leo Guardado
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, Fordham University
(2018)
![Melissa Pagán](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Melissa-Pagan-pic.jpg)
Melissa Pagán
Director of Graduate Religious Studies & Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles
(2018)
![Erica M. Ramirez](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ericaheadshot-nsl62noz12oxwyuyekx1i3ny7qi7cjwe7iwnl0b9qk-nsl6ccf3glybkaseu9nmr8h27bygg1q02u1bf5jz7w.jpg)
Erica M. Ramirez
Director of Applied Research at Auburn Seminary
(2018)
2019
![Lizzette Acosta](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Acosta-Lizette-Picture-1.jpg)
Lizzette Acosta
Director of Latino Ministry Formation Program, Asbury Theological Seminary
(2019)
![João Chaves](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/joao-chaves.jpeg)
João Chaves
Assistant Director for Programming at the Hispanic Theological Initiative
(2019)
![Marlene Ferreras](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ferreras-Marlene.jpg)
Marlene Ferreras
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, La Sierra University
(2019)
![Néstor Gómez-Morales](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/nestor-Gomez.jpg)
Néstor Gómez-Morales
Lead Pastor, First Congregational Church, Stamford, Connecticut
(2019)
![Yara González-Justiniano](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Gonzalez-Yara.jpg)
Yara González-Justiniano
Visiting Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Community Engagement, Garrett-Evangelical Seminary
(2019)
![José Morales Torres](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Morales-Jose-1.jpeg)
José Morales Torres
Assistant Professor of Latinx Studies, Chicago Theological Seminary
(2019)
![Jennifer Owens-Jofré](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Jennifer-Owens-Jofre.jpg)
Jennifer Owens-Jofré
Assistant Professor of Latinx Theology and Cultures and Director of the Latinx Studies Program, Seminary of the Southwest
(2019)
![Lis Valle](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LisValle-CropSq-scaled-1.jpg)
Lis Valle
Assistant Professor of Homiletics, McCormick Theological Seminary
(2019)
2020
![Saul Barcelo](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/87806313_10156744926621436_4182592942738767872_n.jpg)
Saul Barcelo
Director of the Center for Whole Person Care: Integrating Faith and Healing, Assistant Professor School of Religion, Loma Linda University
(2020)
![Lydia Hernandez-Marcial](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lydia-Hernandez-Marcial.jpg)
Lydia Hernandez-Marcial
Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible, Wartburg Theological Seminary
(2020)
![Yohana Junker](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/JUNKER_Headshot-1.jpeg)
Yohana Junker
Assistant Professor of Art, Religion, and Culture, Claremont School of Theology
(2020)
![Stephanie Mota Thurston](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Stephanie-Mota-Thorson-1.jpg)
Stephanie Mota Thurston
Visiting Professor, Wake Forest University
(2020)
![Melisa Ortiz Berry](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Melisa-Picture-scaled-1.jpg)
Melisa Ortiz Berry
Assistant Professor of History and World Christianity, Northwest Christian University
(2020)
![Rafael Reyes](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Reyes-Image.jpg)
Rafael Reyes
Director of Information Literacy and Library Services, Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, New York Theological Seminary
(2020)
![Martin Rodriguez](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Martin-Rodriguez.jpg)
Martin Rodriguez
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Azusa Pacific University
(2020)
![Aizaiah Yong](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Yong-Website-Photo.jpg)
Aizaiah Yong
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, Pacific School of Religion
(2020)
2021
![Liam de los Reyes](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/de-los-Reyes-Liam-Photo.jpeg)
Liam de los Reyes
Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Mount Angel Seminary
(2021)
![Fellipe do Vale](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/do-Vale-Fellipe-Photo.jpeg)
Fellipe do Vale
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
(2021)
![Michael Grigorni](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Grigoni-photo.jpeg)
Michael Grigorni
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology and Roman Catholic Studies, Lexington Theological Seminary
(2021)
![Maria Monteiro](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-4.png)
Maria Monteiro
Lecturer in Church Music, Baylor University School of Music, Waco, Texas
(2021)
![Hector Valera Rios](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Varela-Rios-Hector.jpg)
Hector Valera Rios
Assistant Professor of Theology with an emphasis on Latinx Theology at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
(2021)
![Grace Vargas](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Vargas-Grace-scaled-1.jpeg)
Grace Vargas
Assistant Professor Latinx Religious Traditions at Texas Christian University
(2021)
2022
![Gerardo Corpeño](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-3.png)
Gerardo Corpeño
Professor of Systematic and Latin American Theology at SETECA
(2022)
![Elmer Guzman](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Elmer-Guzman-scaled-1.jpg)
Elmer Guzman
Professor of Systematic Theology, Instituto Adventista Paranaense, Brazil
(2022)
![Adrián Hernández-Acosta](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/adrian-hernandez-e1655308452274.jpg)
Adrián Hernández-Acosta
Postdoctoral Fellow in International Humanities in the Department of Hispanic Studies and the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, Brown University
(2022)
![Alberto La Rosa Rojas](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/La-Rosa-Rojas-Alberto-headshot.jpg)
Alberto La Rosa Rojas
Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Western Theological Seminary
(2022)
![Juan Morales](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Morales-Juan-Carlos.jpg)
Juan Morales
Pastor, Park Slope Christian Tabernacle, Brooklyn, New York, Adjunct Professor, Western Theological Seminary Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
(2022)
![Michael Orellana](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-6.png)
Michael Orellana
Director of Graduate Studies in Theology, Universidad Peruana Union (Peru)
(2022)
![Francisco Pelaez Diaz](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Francisco-Pelaez-Diaz-website.jpg)
Francisco Pelaez Diaz
Assistant Teaching Professor in Latinx Ministries, Drew University
(2022)
![Elaine Penagos](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elaine-Penagos-headshot.jpg)
Elaine Penagos
Visiting Assistant Professor, Emory University
(2022)
![Adam Perez](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/adam-perez-6-22.jpg)
Adam Perez
Postdoctoral Associate at Duke Divinity School
(2022)
![Pamela Stevens](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Stevens-Photo.jpg)
Pamela Stevens
Consultant for Latinx Ministries at the El Buen Pastor and as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Redlands
(2022)
2023
![Arelis Benitez](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-7.png)
Arelis Benitez
Director of Field Education and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, Vanderbilt University
(2023)
![Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-8.png)
Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, Reed College
(2023)
![Christopher Rios](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-9.png)
Christopher Rios
Assistant Editor at Rutgers University Press
(2023)
![Alma Tinoco Ruiz](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-11.png)
Alma Tinoco Ruiz
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Homiletics and Evangelism, and Director of the Hispanic House of Studies, Duke Divinity School
(2023)
![Eric Sias](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-10.png)
Eric Sias
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Director of Latina/o Programs, Berkeley School of Theology
(2023)
![Seth Villegas](https://hti.ptsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Website-Square-Images-12.png)
Seth Villegas
Independent Scholar
(2023)