Doors Open to an Ecumenical Vision

podcastOPTalks
Written By Open Plaza

Dr. Edwin Hernández talks with Stephen Di Trolio Coakley about his intersecting paths in ministry, the sociology of religion, fundraising, and academia

Photo by kosta karampelas

 
 

This OPTalks episode features a dialogue between Stephen Di Trolio Coakley, a PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary, and Dr. Edwin Hernández, President of Antillean Adventist University. The conversation chronicles Dr. Hernández' journey from his roots as a preacher’s child in Puerto Rico to his role in sociology, theology, and fundraising, particularly during his tenure at Louisville Institute. Dr. Hernández reflects on his early experiences in ministry, his academic pursuits, and the transformative mentorship of figures like Dr. Caleb Rosado, Dr. Julian Zamora, and Olga Villaparra. Notably, Hernández recounts his involvement in establishing the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) by taking the lead on writing a significant proposal that he co-authored, which addressed funding gaps in Latinx theological education.

The discussion underscores Dr. Hernández' commitment to fostering inclusive theological spaces as opportunities for scholars and communities while adapting to the changing educational environment. He asserts, “It’s important for us to reinvent who we are, to connect to, to challenge institutions, to be more faithful and responsive to the needs of our community.”

 
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Stephen Di Trolio Coakley

Stephen R. Di Trolio Coakley is a PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary in the Department of History and Ecumenics (world Christianity and history of religions). He worked and taught in Buenos Aires, Argentina before moving to Princeton, New Jersey. His research interests include Pentecostalism, Latin American history, political theology, and decolonial theory. Di Trolio Coakley is currently a Louisville Institute Fellow.

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Edwin Hernández

Dr. Edwin Hernández serves as President of Antillean Adventist University. With extensive experience in higher education, philanthropy, and scholarship, he is recognized for his advocacy of theological education and commitment to advancing scholarship. Before his current role, Dr. Hernández was the Executive Director of the Louisville Institute, based out of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and served as President and Provost at AdventHealth University. His career includes positions as Senior Program Officer at the DeVos Family Foundations, Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre Dame, Program Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Antillean Adventist University. He also taught as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Andrews University. Dr. Hernández earned his PhD and MA in Sociology of Religion from the University of Notre Dame, an MDiv from Andrews University, and a BA in Theological Studies from La Sierra University. He has led significant research initiatives on theological education, congregational studies, and philanthropic strategies. Throughout his career, Dr. Hernández has remained a dedicated scholar and writer, authoring and contributing to five books and over 60 articles and reports, establishing him as a thought leader in his discipline.

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