Meet the 2026-2027 Global Theological Fellows

ezavala747

Aug 21

9 min read

WILLINDA CHARUMUKA

Willinda Charumuka is the Associate Pastor of Wyatt Park Christian Church in Saint Joseph, Missouri. In her time with Wyatt Park CC, she has worked in a supportive leadership role with the Senior Pastor and church leadership, as a liaison with the Pre-School housed within the church, as an advisor for the High School Youth Ministry, as an ardent Bible teacher for small groups, as an occasional member of the worship team, and preaching or serving at the table on Sunday mornings. Willinda received her M.Div from Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University and a master of music from Arizona State University. Her passions include taking long walks on the beach and playing viola from time to time.

MARIAISABELLE GARCIA

Mariaisabelle Garcia is an incoming third-year M.Div. student at the University of Chicago. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with minors in Latinx/Latin American studies and LGBTQIA+ studies from Chapman University. She participated in Chapman University’s Disciples on Campus program, serving on the Disciples leadership board for three consecutive years. During her time in Orange County, she was accepted into the Poor People’s Campaign national student fellowship in 2019 and the CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) religious leaders fellowship in 2022.

She continues to find opportunities to practice her spiritual care and religious leadership skills, doing internships at Allisonville Christian Church and University Church and Clinical Pastoral Education at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Mariaisabelle loves baking and cooking, often offering her baked goods for Monday Night Dinner at DDH! She also loves learning a new craft, adding crochet and sewing to her hobby list this year!

ELLA JOHNSON

Hello everyone! My name is Ella Johnson. I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, and now live in Chicago, Illinois. I am currently a student at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where I just finished the first year of my Master of Divinity. I also am a House Scholar and resident at the Disciples Divinity House. I did my undergraduate education at Texas Christian University (go frogs!!) where I graduated in 2024 with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a B.A. in Political Science. I was also a part of Disciples on Campus all four years at TCU and was the president for two years and social justice chair for my last year. Additionally, during my junior year of undergrad, I studied abroad at Oxford University.

I was raised in the Catholic Church until the third grade, when my family left our Catholic Parish and found Heart of the Rockies Christian Church, an incredible Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation in Fort Collins, Colorado. Since joining HRCC, I have been an active participant in the life of the denomination. In high school, I was incredibly involved in church camp and was a member of my regional youth council (ECOY) and the General Youth Council for the DOC. In college, I worked as an intern for one summer with Be The Neighbor, then site directed the Albuquerque site in 2024. I also was a HELM Leadership Fellow throughout college. After graduation, I worked as a Peace Intern through Disciples Peace Fellowship during the summer of 2025, which was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my life. No matter where I’ve lived, I’ve always found belonging and fellowship in the DOC congregations I’ve been a part of, whether that be HRCC in Fort Collins, Galileo Church in Fort Worth, or National City Christian Church while I lived in Washington, DC.

In my free time, I love to spend time outdoors. When I’m home in Colorado, you can often find me paddleboarding on Horsetooth Reservoir, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, or biking around the bike trails in Fort Collins. I also love reading fiction; romance has been my favorite genre as of recent. I am also a big fan of baking when I have time (any banana bread fans out there??) and look forward to experimenting more with cooking when I have my own kitchen! I love music, especially singing and playing the piano, and have been trying rather poorly to learn to guitar for a couple years now. I’ve also started running recently and have been finding a surprising amount of joy in that activity.

After finishing my M.Div., I hope to pursue hospital chaplaincy. However, I am also considering a call to congregational ministry and am even contemplating entering a monastery for a year after graduation, so we will see where life takes me. But for now, I am excited to embark of the transformational journey of GTF!

LATICIA LEE

Rev. Laticia M. Lee is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), preacher, educator, community organizer, and faith leader committed to building communities rooted in justice, healing, and hope. She serves as the Founder and Pastor of The Ministry Church (TMC), a Spirit-led, open, affirming, and inclusive congregation in Richmond, Virginia, where people are welcomed, healed, and empowered to restore dignity, rebuild community, and embody God’s love in the world.

Laticia currently serves as Director of Ministries at Mount Carmel Baptist Church and as a Faith Outreach Organizer with Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, helping congregations connect faith with environmental stewardship, community engagement, and public witness. Her ministry is grounded in the belief that the church is called not only to worship but also to participate in the work of healing communities and advancing justice.

A graduate of Virginia Union University, Laticia holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Arts in Christian Education. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Phillips Theological Seminary, specializing in Black Church Traditions and Public Proclamation. Her academic and ministry interests include congregational development, practical theology, community transformation, leadership formation, and the role of the church in addressing systemic inequities.

In addition to her pastoral work, Laticia serves on community boards, mentors emerging leaders, and develops programs that support spiritual growth, grief care, family strengthening, and neighborhood engagement. She has been recognized for her leadership and service through honors including the Ella P. Mitchell Preaching Award and the Allix B. James Community Service Award.

One of Laticia’s greatest passions is creating innovative ministry models that connect faith with everyday life. Through The Ministry Church, she is working to cultivate spaces where people can encounter belonging, healing, and purpose while addressing practical community needs. Her current projects include expanding community partnerships, developing healing-centered ministries, and exploring sustainable models of ministry that strengthen both individuals and neighborhoods.

Whether preaching, teaching, organizing, or mentoring, Laticia seeks to help people become whole, free, and faithful while inspiring communities to live more fully into God’s vision of justice, compassion, and beloved community.

LUCIA NAPOLEZ

Based in Southern California, Lucia Napolez is a scholar, higher education professional, and community advocate whose life and career are anchored in the pursuit of social justice, restorative mentorship, and healing. Building upon a background in academic administration and entrepreneurial experience, Lucia has found a distinct calling tethered to faith-rooted advocacy. By bridging the gap between institutional equity and faith-centered care, they cultivate deep conversations with individuals from all walks of life, working to foster a more inclusive approach to relationship-building and religious community.

Having faced systemic discrimination across the intersections of class, race, and sexuality, Lucia has transformed personal obstacles into a powerful framework for ministry. These accumulated experiences provided them with a foundation of forgiveness, patience, and an unwavering commitment to truth-telling. Through their ministry, Lucia seeks to bring to light necessary, often uncomfortable conversations regarding modern North American Christian movements. By connecting current dynamics to historical attitudes, they expose the systemic behaviors that continue to challenge inclusive Christian spaces today.

As an avid historian, Lucia finds joy in exploring faith movements alongside social and political history. They utilize these historical references to educate others, illustrating how past events tie directly to modern community-building efforts and conflict-restorative practices. Having navigated unethical leadership in both religious and secular spaces, Lucia has made it a core mission to shine a light on the unchecked attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate unfair treatment.

Since 2023, Lucia has developed an innovative curriculum for community workshops centered on emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and LGBTQ+ inclusion for faith communities. They collaborate closely on this work with their fiancée, Emily Tran, who is pursuing a dual Master of Divinity and Master of Social Transformation. Together, they co-create and tailor each workshop curriculum to meet the specific, evolving needs of the various communities that seek out their training.

As a lifelong student dedicated to character development and leadership growth, Lucia looks forward to participating in HELM. They hope to connect with like-minded individuals to collaborate toward a more equitable and inclusive world, particularly within faith-centered communities.

XAVIER ROBLES

My name is Xavier Robles, and I just graduated from Claremont School of Theology with a Master of Divinity with a specialization in interfaith chaplaincy! I have lived in Los Angeles, California, all my life and aspire to stay here for as long as I can! I am the middle child within my Mexican-Guatemalan household, and I am so blessed to be a part of these two amazing cultures. I am affiliated with the United Church of Christ and am currently in the process of discernment regarding ordination. When I am not at work or school, I love spending time with my partner, family, and friends. I enjoy spending time in nature, exercising, dancing, and learning about new cultures/religions. My partner and I recently adopted a kitten too (his name is Shrek), so now we’re officially cat parents (which I think we’re doing an amazing job at hehe).

I decided to continue my higher education with CST due to my interest in spiritual care, interreligious dialogue, and being involved in social activism. I knew CST was the right choice for me as they embodied many of the values that I wanted to grow in as a leader and as a spiritual care practitioner. I was also introduced to CLUE – the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, an interfaith organization that seeks to bring about justice for low-wage laborers and migrants. This summer I have been given the opportunity to be a part of the Young Religious Leader Fellowship with CLUE, where I’ll get hands-on experience with community organizing and teamwork and collaboration with my cohort! I am excited for this opportunity as it reminds me of what seminary is all about – putting faith into action! I will also be continuing my Clinical Pastoral Education in August through Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where I’ve been given a residency position. Ultimately, I am grateful for my seminary and local church for helping me integrate my interests in spiritual care and social activism into the real world!

KEVEN ROBINSON

Keven Robinson is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and is the senior pastor for the Church of Grace and Mercy. He is enrolled at Regent University and is in his third year as a Master of Divinity student, majoring in Theology and Ministry with a concentration in Chaplain Ministry. Keven's goal once completing his degree is to work in Hospice Chaplaincy. He is currently employed with Grandview Medical as an office administrator for one of its primary care clinics.

During his free time, Keven enjoys working out at the gym, visiting with family and friends. Especially his 10-year-old niece, Daisy, and 6-year-old twin nephews, Sterling and Colson. He also loves to go with his best friend Greg thrifting and antique shopping to find the next needless treasure.

KATIE VARON

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, and fell in love with the church through summers at our campground, the Retreat at Silver Springs. In high school, I became involved with the work of the national church through General Youth Council. That work has expanded as an adult, as both a youth delegate at the 2024 ACT Alliance in Indonesia and a Week of Compassion seminarian intern with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines last summer. After a gap year with AmeriCorps, I attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where I majored in Political Science and minored in Religion. I was a HELM fellow for those four years and had the opportunity to visit with partners in Palestine in my third year. I am currently pursuing my Master of Divinity and Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and am entering my third year as a Disciples Divinity House Scholar. I am in the process of ordination and am under care at my home church, Riverside Avenue Christian Church. I am interested in pursuing work at the intersection of politics and religion, specifically in the domain of human rights and public theology. In my free time, I love to knit and crochet, attempt the New York Times daily crossword, FaceTime my dogs (and my family), get stumped by Agatha Christie, and spend time in the sun.

JEFFERY WHITE

Jeffery White is a future pastor and thought leader preparing to begin seminary at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in August 2025, pursuing a dual Master of Divinity and Master of Science in Social Work. With a Bachelor of Science in Church Leadership from North Central University and extensive ministry experience as an Assistant Pastor, Youth & Discipleship Leader, and Social Media Director, Jeffery brings both pastoral heart and strategic communication skills to his work.

Through his platform, The Pastor in Training, he creates engaging content on biblical literacy, faith deconstruction, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. His mission is to build radically welcoming communities for those historically marginalized by the church. Jeffery is also passionate about innovative outreach, including launching a “pay-what-you-can” BBQ food truck as a living expression of grace and generosity.

ROCHELLE ZECHER

I live in Middletown, Ohio with my husband of 25 years and our 19 year old twins girls. I am currently studying at Lexington Theological Seminary for my pastoral certificate and hope to be commissioned in the Disciples of Christ for pastoral leadership. I am working on a project called Children Here, Children There, Children Worship Everywhere which seeks to make church more intergenerational. Lastly, I serve as the Student Discipleship Minister in my local congregation.