From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Martell, Loida I.
The Rev. Dr. Loida I. Martell was named the first Latina Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at the Lexington Theological Seminary in 2017 [source: "Martell named LTS dean, VP; Brackney receives Christian Academy alumni award"]. Before joining the faculty at LTS, she was Professor of Constructive Theology at Palmer Theological School of Eastern University in Pennsylvania. During that time, she founded the Orlando E. Costas Lectureship and the Diversity Committee, helping the school as it sought to become an actively anti-racist and more inclusive institution. She has also taught at: Gordon Conwell’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education in Boston and the University of Puerto Rico’s College of Allied Health Professionals [source: "Meet Loida Martell, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary"].At each of her former institution’s Dr. Martell was instrumental in pushing the campus to deepen its commitment to practicing equity and inclusion. In 2015, Dr. Martell was awarded the Richard Holland Christian Education Award, highest recognition offered by the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, for her long-standing work in nurturing culturally and racially diverse classrooms and for exceptional leadership [source: "Loida I. Martell-Otero" website of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada].
Dr. Martell received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and also holds a Master's of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School, a Master’s of Philosophy from Rodham University and a doctorate in theology from Fordham University [source: "Loida Martell-Otero"]. Complimenting her extensive teaching experience Dr. Martell blazed new trails in the study of evángelica theology and has published articles on evángelica soteriology, Christology, the doctrine of God, Scriptural hermeneutics, embodiment, eschatology, globalization, and vocation.
Much of this work was grounded in her fifteen years spent pastoring in New York City and her Puerto Rican roots [source: "Meet Loida Martell, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary"]. For example, she published on the religious beliefs of the Taino, the Indigenous population of Puerto Rico, with a focus on its links with theological anthropology/embodiment, eschatology, and globalization [source: "Loida Martell-Otero"]. In addition, she was a founding member of the Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH) [source: "Loida I. Martell-Otero"]. She served as president of the Board of American Baptist Churches/Metro New York City from 1994 to 1996 [source: "Loida Martell-Otero"] She co-authored Latina Evangélicas: A Theological Survey from the Margins (2013) and co-edited Teología en Conjunto: A Collaborative Hispanic Protestant Theology (1997). A member of the American Academy of Religion, Dr. Martell currently serves as President of La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars of Religion [source: "Meet Loida Martell, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary"].
This entry was written by Angelica Miller.
