Ashland University Names New Seminary Leader

Dr. Juan Martínez has been named as the new executive dean and vice president at Ashland Theological Seminary, beginning July 1. 

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Martínez join our AU family and become the leader of our Seminary,” said AU President Dr. Carlos Campo. “Dr. Martínez is an accomplished academic and faithful man of God, with an extraordinary background and the vision needed to lead ATS to new heights.”

Dr. Martínez has served as professor of Hispanic studies and pastoral leadership at Fuller Seminary. Since joining Fuller in 2001, Dr. Martínez served as vice president for diversity and international ministries, vice provost, associate provost for diversity and international programs, and director of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community. 

Martínez’s academic research has focused on U.S. Latinos, Latin American Protestantism and on how migrants take their faith with them. Specifically, he has published several books on U.S. Latino Protestants, intercultural relations in the church, and on Latino and Latin American Anabaptism. His current focus is on transnationalism and mission and the theological formation of leaders in Latin American Pentecostal contexts. 

Dr. Martínez was the 2019 recipient of the C. Davis Weyerhaeuser Award for Excellence, which is Fuller’s highest honor of distinction given to a deserving faculty by his or her peers.

Martínez joined Fuller from the Latin American Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where he served as rector for nine years. A Mennonite Brethren pastor, Martínez also has experience in church planting and teaching in both religious and secular venues. He served as director of Hispanic Ministries for the Pacific District Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church and of Instituto Bíblico del Pacífico, a Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute.

AU President Dr. Carlos Campo noted a special thank you to Dr. Wayne McCown, who led the Seminary “with excellence” in his interim role. “He and his wife Darlene will be missed, and we ask God to bless their ongoing journey,” Campo said.


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