Perkins Alumni/ae Council

The Perkins Alumni Council is comprised of representatives from among the alumni of Perkins School of Theology's degree programs and Course of Study School. Members are elected from throughout the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.  The council meets twice yearly in the autumn and during February's Ministers Week, assisting the school in its planning of academic programs, continuing education, development, internship, recruiting, and annual conference planning

Perkins Alumni/ae Council

2009 Distinguished Alumni Award

PERKINS HONORS DR. DAVID MALDONADO, JR. AS 2009 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, announces the selection of David Maldonado, Jr. as the Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus for 2009. The award is given each year to an alumnus or alumna who personifies effectiveness and integrity in service to the church and wider community, support and involvement in the goals of the seminary and university, and exemplary character. 

          Maldonado, a native of Seguin, Texas, is an ordained elder in the Rio Grande Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  He is the Director of the Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity and Religions at Perkins School of Theology.  He served as President of the Iliff School of Theology from 2000 to 2004 and on the faculty of Perkins School of Theology from 1984 to 2000 as Professor of Church and Society, and as associate dean for academic affairs from 1993 to 1997.  Maldonado has also taught at the School of Health and Human Services of California State University, Los Angeles, and the Graduate School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington.

          After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at El Paso and his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Perkins, Maldonado earned both masters and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of California at Berkeley.  Prior to his work in higher education, he served as pastor of a United Methodist congregation in Fort Worth, Texas; in the Social Program Department of the mayor's office in San Francisco, California; as a community organizer for the Fort Worth Metropolitan Board of Missions; and as executive director of the Office of Economic Opportunity Migrant Project in Wichita County, Kansas.

          He is the author of Crossing Guadalupe Street, as well as numerous articles, and has contributed chapters to several books.  He is the editor of Protestantes/Protestants: Hispanic Christianity Within Mainline Traditions and co-editor with Paul Barton of Hispanic Christianity Within Mainline Protestant Traditions - A Bibliography.

          Maldonado has given distinguished service to local and national communities as well as to The United Methodist Church.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Whitney M. Young, Jr. Foundation Fellowship and a W. K. Kellogg Foundation Fellowship.  The Dallas Mexican Chamber of Commerce named him Educator of the Year in 1977.  Maldonado was elected to the University Senate of The United Methodist Church by the 2004 General Conference.   A noted speaker, he has given the Glover Lectures at Southwestern University, the Sikes-Melugin Lecture in Religious Studies at McMurry College, and the Kellogg Lectures at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has served on the editorial board of “The Gerontologist” and as a reviewer for “The Journal of Social Service Research.”

          Maldonado's wife, Charlotte, is retired, having taught third grade for fifteen years. The Maldonados have two sons, Dr. David Maldonado, III, and Carlos Maldonado.  David and Charlotte currently reside in New Mexico.