Claudia Herrera-Montero

Dr. Claudia Herrera-Montero is a Catholic practical theologian and associate professor of theology at ��ӽ�. She is the 2026 recipient of ��ӽ�’s Mother Evelyn Murphy Excellence in Teaching Award. Her scholarly work sits at the intersection of U.S. Latina/x theologies and practical theology. Her latest research, peer-reviewed publications and academic presentations include Participatory Action Research (PAR) among first-generation college-age Latina/x students at Catholic Hispanic-serving institutions. This research has also enabled her to better engage underrepresented college-age students and their communities in both the classroom and ministerial settings.

Dr. Herrera came to ��ӽ� with experience in Catholic higher education since 2010. Before her faculty appointment, she served as a director of campus ministry, and theology faculty in the Archdiocese of Miami. In addition, she has contributed to the formation of Hispanic Ministry leaders from the Dioceses of the Southeast. Dr. Herrera was elected in 2026 as Vice President of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS). She draws from the spiritual and cultural wells of both the U.S. Latinx Catholic experience and the Latin American experience. Some of the courses she teaches at ��ӽ� are Abuelita Theology and U.S. Latina Theology and Spirituality. Dr. Herrera is a proud colombiana and a cafecito enthusiast!

Education

PhD, Practical Theology, St. Thomas University, Miami, FL

MA, Pastoral Ministries, St. Thomas University, Miami, FL

BA, International Relations, Universidad del Rosario (Rosary University), Bogotá, Colombia

BA, Political Sciences, Universidad del Rosario (Rosary University), Bogotá, Colombia

Selected Publications

(2024). Participando en Conjunto: Advancing the Field of Practical Theology in a Synodal Church [Unpublished manuscript]. 2024 Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) Annual Colloquium: Synodality En Conjunto: The People of God, the Bible, and Theology (Edited Volume). Convivium Press.

Herrera-Montero, C. (2024). [Review of the Book Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church ed. by T. Gaunt]. Pastoral Liturgy 55(3).

Herrera-Montero, C. (2024). [Review of the book Young Latino Catholics: Stories of Faith ed. by H. Ospino and T. Matovina]. American Catholic Studies 135(2), 78-80. DOI: .

Herrera-Montero, C. (2023). [Review of the book Revelation in the Vernacular, Disruptive Cartographers: Doing Theology Latinamente by J. Ruiz]. Pastoral Liturgy, 54(4). Retrieved from .

(2023). Call to Return to God’s Mercy and Love, Pastoral Liturgy 54(6).

Selected Presentations

Presenter, “Teologando Abuelita-mente (Abuelita Theology): A Participatory Action Research (PAR) Methodology of the Classroom,” Creative Research Methodologies in Practical Theology, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, November 23, 2024.

Guest Lecture, “Abuelita Theology and the U.S. Latinx Communal Dimension of lo Cotidiano,” Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology, DePaul University, October 30, 2024.

Guest Lecture, “Theologizing Abuelita-mente: Reimagining the spaces of “comunidad/community,” “la lucha/the struggle,” and “permítanme hablar/allow me to speak,” Lecture on Latine Theology, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT, October 17, 2024.

Panelist, “Living the Call to Ministry,” 2024 Haciendo Caminos Vocation Summit, Haciendo Caminos-University of Notre Dame, ��ӽ�, August 2, 2024.

Presenter, “Participando en Conjunto: Advancing the Field of Practical Theology in a Synodal Church,” Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) Colloquium, Boston, MA, June 9-12, 2024.

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