Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight: Rosedanny Ortiz
Rosedanny Ortiz Hernández, a proud native of Puerto Rico, discovered her calling to ministry after an unexpected shift toward theology. Learn more about her journey and contributions to her community in our blog.
Rosedanny Ortiz Hernández, a proud native of Puerto Rico, discovered her calling to ministry after an unexpected shift toward theology. Having earned her Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology in 2021, she continues to embody the values of faith, resilience, and service that shaped her journey at Perkins. Learn more about how her time on campus was devoted to creating inclusive spaces and celebrating cultural diversity..
Q: Please list your full name, hometown, and degree program with expected graduation year.
A: My name is Rosedanny Ortiz Hernández, I’m from Puerto Rico, and I graduated in 2021 with an M. Div.
Q: Before beginning your studies at Perkins, what were you doing, and how did you first discover Perkins as the place for your theological education?
A: I grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to the United States after getting married in March 2016. Before arriving in the States, I completed my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. My initial plan was to find a job as an engineer, but God had other plans for me. As I was discerning my call to ministry, I heard great things about Perkins as an excellent place for theological education. I attended an Inside Perkins event, and I fell in love with the community and the academic program. I immediately applied!
Q: While a student, how did Hispanic-based programs or initiatives on campus help nurture and support your experience?
A: As a student, if I recall correctly, we had perhaps only two or three Hispanic professors, and L@s Seminaristas, a student organization. I became involved with this organization and helped create new initiatives on campus to share more about Hispanic culture, as well as to offer worship with a bilingual experience. We helped the community be more aware of the beauty of diversity and listen to the stories only a handful of Hispanic students could share in classroom and event settings within the Perkins community.
Q: In your current work, how has your education at Perkins shaped the way you approach ministry and service?
A: I utilize my education from Perkins daily. It shaped me into the leader that I am today. One of my favorite classes was the Old and New Testaments, taught by the outstanding professors Dr. Levison and Dr. Smith, who provided us with tools that I still use when preparing sermons. Additionally, the late Professor and friend, Dr. Aaron, was instrumental in my discernment to pursue ordained ministry and encouraged me to continue my work advocating for and being a voice for the Hispanic Community in the United Methodist Church.
Q: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?
A:It means having the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary, diverse culture and what every single Hispanic brings to the table—the talents, gifts, creativity, brilliance, resilience. In Puerto Rico, as a Caribbean island, I didn’t grow up celebrating this, but I have learned the importance and significance this celebration has here in the United States. In Puerto Rico, we celebrate who we are and our heritage every single day; it’s part of our culture!
Q: What elements of Hispanic culture, values, or perspectives do you believe are most vital to bring into theological development—and how can theology, in turn, enrich the Hispanic community?
A: I can speak from a Puerto Rican perspective, which embodies radical hospitality and living out “agape” in our everyday circumstances. We turn unfortunate events into opportunities for transformation with our resilient spirit, bringing about positive change on our island. That spirit is what I brought with me when I moved to Dallas, Texas; it is what drives my ministry setting and what helps me envision a future.
Q: As a Latina theological leader, what progress have you seen for women and for the wider Latino community in ministry, and what further steps do you hope to see for the next generation?
A: I have seen increased support for the Hispanic Latino ministry, and I’m beyond excited to see that Perkins is moving in that direction, such as offering the M. Div. in Spanish. I hope to see more program initiatives, cohorts, and events focus on Hispanic Ministry in the future, so that we can better prepare our future leaders to lead this growing ministry, especially in these challenging times.
Q: How have you seen Perkins’ commitment to creating a welcoming and diverse community in action, and what excites you about the school’s direction for the future?
A: Since the day I visited the campus for the first time, I have experienced a welcoming community that is driven to fulfill its commitment to diversity. I’m excited to see the new things they are doing so as not to let language be a barrier to providing the same high-quality theological education for everyone.