Drew Theological School and Hispanic Theological Initiative
August 2025 – The Hispanic Theological Initiative’s (HTI) mission is cultivating Latine PhD students for leadership positions in the academy, the church, and the world.
To support this mission, Drew Theological School is a member of the HTI consortium, a collaborative partnership to increase recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of Latine PhD students in the U.S. by leveraging institutional resources.
With the help of Drew and other partnering institutions, HTI is now serving the largest cohort of Latine PhD students in the U.S. Cohorts are available to scholars to correspond with the various stages of earning a PhD. HTI has shepherded many Drew students as they earn their PhDs.
“I would not have completed my PhD without that support,” said Theological School Dean and HTI Steering Committee Chair Edwin David Aponte, who was a scholar in the first HTI cohort.
“My participation in the program has given me a sense of belonging in academia, renewed self-confidence, and concrete tools to thrive in this challenging yet rewarding space,” said Drew PhD student and HTI scholar Yaheli Vargas-Ramos, who recently attended HTI’s Professional Development Conference.
“For me, the conference served as an oasis—a space to regain strength and inspiration for the year ahead,” said Vargas-Ramos. “In addition to the academic enrichment, I was able to reconnect with friends, meet new colleagues, and build meaningful relationships with fellow Latinx scholars.”
The program directly increases the presence of Latine leaders and faculty scholars in seminaries, schools of theology, and universities.
For more information for HTI and the HTI Scholarship program, please visit their website.
