Nuestro Team

Vice President for Mission and Identity
Loyola University Maryland

Dr. Milton Javier Bravo serves as the Vice President for Mission and Identity, and is an assistant teaching faculty of Theology, at Loyola University Maryland. Prior to joining Loyola, Dr. Bravo served as vice president for mission, values, and inclusion at a college sponsored by the Dominicans. He brings close to 20 years of experience in higher education, having served roles in mission integration, student life, student services, research, teaching, and enrollment management. He earned a BA in Theology and Philosophy from Saint Peter's University, a Jesuit, Catholic Hispanic Serving Institution for over 25 years, an MA in Theology with a concentration in Biblical Studies from Seton Hall University, and a Ph.D., in an Interdisciplinary program in Education, Religion, and Religious Education from Fordham University. He has served on the boards of the College Theology Society, the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States and Hope Border Institute, a binational non-profit committed to bringing the perspective of Catholic social teaching to bear on the realities unique to our US-Mexico border region through a robust program of research and policy work, leadership development and action, working for justice and deepen solidarity across the borderlands. He currently serves on the board of Innovation Works, a Jesuit apostolate focused on entrepreneurship and social innovation in the city of Baltimore, MD.
 

Executive Director, TENx10 Collaboration
Fuller Theological Seminary

Pastor Raymond Chang is the Executive Director of the TENx10 Collaboration, which is a collaborative movement that is geared towards reaching 10 million young people over 10 years with the gospel. He is also the president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, an organization that seeks to see Asian American Christianity and the church flourish. Prior to his role at Fuller, Raymond served for 7+ years as the Associate Chaplain for Discipleship at Wheaton College. He also worked in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and served in the Peace Corps in Panama. He is currently pursuing his PhD on the intersection of Spirituality and Campus/Organizational Racial Climates. He and his wife, Jessica, are proud parents of Sophia, and they reside in Chicago.

Associate Director for Campus Ministry for Leadership & Community Development
St. John’s University

Elvira Garcia is a dedicated higher education professional with a passion for student-centered learning and mentoring. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education from St. John's University and a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University. Elvira takes pride in being a first-generation college student who proudly identifies as a Chicana from New York City. She deeply values mentorship and is committed to guiding students through their academic, personal, and spiritual journeys. Currently, Elvira serves as the Associate Director of Campus Ministry for Leadership and Community Development at St. John's University Office of Mission and Ministry.  In this role, she works with the Catholic Scholars Program, Resident Ministry, First Gen Fellowship, and Hispanic Ministry. In her free time, Elvira enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, being in communidad, listening to music and podcasts.

Assistant Professor, Theology
Dominican University

Dr. Claudia H. Herrera-Montero serves as Assistant Professor of Theology at Dominican University. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Herrera earned her undergraduate studies in International Relations and Political Sciences at Universidad del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary University) in Bogotá. She holds a Ph.D. in Practical Theology (2017) and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministries (2010) from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL. Her doctoral dissertation, “Understanding Contemporary Practical Latino/a Theology Through the Lenses of College-Age Latinas in Their 20’s: A New Marianismo?” has expanded her participatory-action research on the faith identity, spirituality, and social location among first-generation college-age Latinas and their families in South Florida. Her research has also enabled her to better engage underrepresented communities in both the classroom and ministerial settings. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS). As a Latina practical theologian, she draws from the spiritual and cultural wells of both the U.S. Latinx Catholic experience and the Latin American experience.

Santa Rosa de Lima Fellow, PASOS Network
Dominican University

Victor Martinez Macias is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in informatics and theology. As a first-generation college student from an immigrant Mexican background, he is deeply committed to community and cultural representation. Victor serves as the Director of Events for the Organization of Latin American Students, where he highlights and celebrates Latinx cultures on campus. His dedication extends to his role as a Ministry en lo Cotidiano Fellow through University Ministry, and as a TORCH leader, where he supports and guides new students through their transition to Dominican University.

Director, University Ministry
Dominican University

Andrew Mercado is passionate about holistic student formation and mission integration in Catholic Higher Education. Helping students explore the enduring questions of life in the pursuit of living a meaningful and purposeful life through the lens of faith and social justice is at the heart of Andrew’s passion for student formation. He seeks to cultivate experiences and opportunities that holistically integrates the spiritual, intellectual and social development of students. Andrew is dedicated to exploring the intersections of spirituality, justice and vocation within the college student experience, while finding new ways of expressing the mission of Catholic higher education in light of the evolving social realities and needs of our world. As a first-generation student, Andrew is focused on promoting access and equity in Catholic higher education to ensure that every student has the resources and support to thrive during the formative years of their college experience  Andrew holds a Masters of Arts in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Catholic higher education, spirituality, faith and formation from Boston College and a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Health Care Management from the College of Our Lady of the Elms. Andrew has served in Vocation Ministry, chaplaincy with ALANA and first-generation students, and most recently as an assistant director of campus ministry. Andrew’s cultural roots are Colombian and Puerto Rican. His experience of growing up in a vibrant Catholic Hispanic community nourishes Andrew’s passion to serve and minister within the Church in a way that reflects and integrates the diversity of the people of God.   Andrew enjoys spending time in nature and loves listening to music, especially Salsa.

Associate Director of Campus Ministry
University of St. Thomas–Minnesota

Marta is originally from Costa Rica and lived several years in Puerto Rico where she served as a missionary before coming the US. She is a St. Thomas alum with majors in Theology and Catholic Studies and was part of the Latino Leadership Program.  She holds a master’s degree in theology from the University of St Thomas, a graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from St. Catherine University and is currently working on her doctorate on Education.

Marta has an extensive experience working with Hispanic populations in ministerial roles during the last 30 years, 10 of those years in Latin America, both in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico and the last 20 years in Minnesota, where she has served at the parish level, with Latino ministries at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and as an Adjunct professor for the Spanish Pastoral Ministry Certificate at the University of St Thomas. Marta has worked as a Campus Minister at St Catherine University and at the University of St Thomas, MN, where she has served as Director of the Office for Spirituality for six years and currently as Associate Director of Campus Ministry. Part of her role in campus ministry has been to develop programming for Hispanic students that include celebrating their faith traditions, building community of faith on campus as well as retreat opportunities.
 

Minister for Pastoral Music
St. Mary’s University 

María A. Smith holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and a Masters in Pastoral Ministry from Oblate School of Theology. She taught Theology and served in Campus Ministry at St. Joseph’s High School in Victoria, Texas for 17 years. Since 2007 she has served as the Minister for Pastoral Music at St. Mary’s University and has served there for the past 18 years. Currently, María is a DMin. candidate at Oblate with an emphasis in Hispanic Ministry and is currently in the dissertation writing stage.

Executive Director, Campus Ministry
University of Dayton

Crystal Sullivan, EdD has served as the Executive Director of Campus Ministry at the University of Dayton since 2011. Prior to this, she served as Associate Director for Residence Life Ministry and the Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Program at UD.  She holds a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from the University of Dayton, a Master of Theological Studies from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, bachelors from Kalamazoo College, and is a certified Campus Minister and Marianist Educational Associate. 

Crystal has served at both Catholic and public universities in her 30+ years as a Campus Minister. She has led numerous national institutes and formation experiences for students, campus ministers, and campus leaders. Most recently Crystal has supported the development of ministries to accompany Hispanic/LatinX, LGBTQ+ students and strengthened resources for Catholic and multi-faith ministries.