The Hispanic Theological Initiative in Princeton, New Jersey, has announced a grant of $7.3 million from the Lilly Endowment to establish a program aimed at helping students discern and navigate their path toward PhD studies. 

Made to the Princeton Theological Seminary, one of HTI’s consortium member schools and its housing institution, the grant will enable the program, “En conjunto! Strengthening the Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation of Latinx Masters and PhD Students,” to provide fellowships for pre-dissertation PhD students, while creating collaborative internships with nonprofit organizations in the area of theological and religious education.

Established in 1996, HTI has helped 150 Latinx scholars earn doctoral degrees and provided professional development and fellowships to several master’s students and post-doctoral scholars. It works with two dozen doctorate-granting institutions whose mission is to cultivate Latinx PhDs for leadership positions in the academy, the church, and around the world.

“We are thrilled to receive this substantial grant as HTI enters 2022,” said HTI executive director Rev. Joanne Rodríguez. “This grant honors HTI’s en conjunto work with its founders, mentors, faculty, editors, staff, partnering institutions, and 24 consortium presidents and deans. It is a testament to the innovative work and collaborative value of HTI’s consortium as well as to its expanding legacy.”

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