Hispanic Theological Initiative

BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL

Financial Aid-Fellowships

Students in the Ph.D. program receive Tuition Grants from Brite Divinity School equivalent to 100% of tuition for four years of study. Annual stipends from $1,000 to $12,000 are available to some students based on academic credentials and potential. Further information is available from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The following Fellowships by Program are available:

Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation 

• The William Baird Fellowship was established in honor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) New Testament scholar, historian, and distinguished member of the Brite Divinity School faculty. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The Walter Harrelson Fellowship was established in honor of the noted Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Hebrew Bible scholar and dean of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years. 
• The James Philip Hyatt Fellowship was established in honor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Hebrew Bible scholar and first dean of the Disciples House at Vanderbilt University. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The M. Jack Suggs Fellowship was established in honor of the distinguished Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) New Testament scholar and dean of Brite Divinity School. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The Herbert Lockwood Willett Fellowship was established in honor of a noted biblical scholar among the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and first dean of the Disciples House at the University of Chicago. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.

Ph.D. in Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling

• The William Clayton Bower Fellowship was established in honor of an influential Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) educator of the College of the Bible and University of Chicago. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The Edward Scribner Ames Fellowship was established in honor of a Disciples scholar who was a leading figure in the “Chicago School” of theology. The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The Charles F. Kemp Fellowship was established in honor of a distinguished Brite Divinity School faculty member who established the Pastoral Care and Counseling Center and Program at Brite Divinity School. The fellowship includes full tuition, fees, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.
• The Mattie Hart Younkin Fellowship was established in honor of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) leader in organizing women’s participation in the National Benevolent Association (1889). The fellowship includes full tuition, a renewable stipend, and eligibility for a student assistantship of $1,500. The award is renewable for a maximum of four years.

Hispanic/Latino Faculty

Hispanic Centers and Programs

Center for Latino/a Church Studies-The Center and its Director aid in recruitment of Latina/o students at Brite; coordinate programs for the Divinity School and community such as the Lecture Series; sponsor continuing education seminars and workshops for Latina/o pastors, including the annual Hispanic Summer Program; and network with Latina/o pastors in the community, including licensed ministers. The programs and services are provided to Hispanic pastors and theological students regardless of their denominational heritage. There is a close working relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Anglo and Hispanic, at the local, regional and national levels.

Library Resources-Special Collections

The Online Databases at the Mary Couts Burnett Library provide access to the Handbook of Latin American Studies, the Hispanic American Periodicals Index (HAPI) and a collection of Hispanic American Newspapers.

Other Resources

• Summer Latino/a Program
• Intersection Lectures
• Crossing Borders Conference
• Licensed Ministry for Hispanics
• Brite Latino/a Students

Former HTI Fellows/HTIC Scholars

Contact Information  

The HTIC person to contact for information on Ph.D. studies at Brite Divinity School is: