Perkins Announces Dr. Ángel J. Gallardo as New Intern Program Associate Director
Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is pleased to announce that Dr. Ángel J. Gallardo has joined the faculty and staff as Associate Director of the Intern Program. Dr. Gallardo brings a rich range of experiences to this new position. Most recently, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU in 2018.
DALLAS (SMU) – Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University is pleased to announce that Dr. Ángel J. Gallardo has joined the faculty and staff as Associate Director of the Intern Program.
Dr. Gallardo brings a rich range of experiences to this new position. Most recently, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU in 2018. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant at Perkins, he has taught several classes in the Regional Course of Study School. Dr. Gallardo holds leadership positions in various professional and Latino/a organizations, and has worked with faith-leaders, activists, and scholars both locally and internationally, including during an internship in Brazil. As an educator, Dr. Gallardo plans to use his knowledge of the Christian tradition to help students integrate their studies and experience with the practical demands of faithful leadership in a congregation or agency. “I hope students will learn to analyze relationships and social spaces, their congregations or agencies, as theological texts,” he said. “Ultimately, I want students to live into their vocation by employing the breadth of Christian tradition to reflect on and carry out their practice of ministry.”
The Perkins Intern Program is widely recognized as an exemplary program in preparing persons for effective Christian ministry. Required as part of the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.M.) degree programs, students participate in internships in a wide variety of ministry settings. Dr. Gallardo joins Intern Program Co-Directors, Dr. Isabel N. Docampo and Dr. Charles L. Aaron, Jr., in serving students as well as the wider Perkins community.
“Dr. Docampo and I cannot adequately express our enthusiasm for the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Gallardo in this office,” Dr. Aaron said. “Acknowledging his intellect, energy, experience, sense of humor and kindness only begin to describe his potential contribution to our ministry with interns, pastors, and churches. He will have a deep and lasting influence,” he added.
Dr. Gallardo, his spouse Kendrea Tannis, and their daughter, Karoline Mercedes, are active members of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies from Eastern University in 2006 and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 2009.
“Although I am new to this role, I am not new to Perkins, having been a part of this theological community for the past several years,” Dr. Gallardo said. “I am excited to hit the ground running.”
###
Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.