Office of the President - Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Source: https://www.garrett.edu/about/presidents-welcome/office-of-the-president
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
Office of the President - Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
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Office of the President
Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera, President
Javier A. Viera is President of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Professor of Education and Leadership. Since assuming the presidency in 2020, he has led the seminary through a period of institutional repositioning—strengthening enrollment, advancing a $100M capital campaign, reimagining the seminary’s physical and institutional presence through a transformative campus partnership with Northwestern University, deepening global and ecclesial partnerships, and guiding strategic initiatives that seek to place Garrett among the leading theological institutions in the world.
Prior to Garrett, Dr. Viera served as Dean of the Theological School at Drew University and as Vice Provost of the university. At Drew he led strategic innovation, strengthened institutional capacity, and advanced the preparation of scholars and practitioners for a rapidly changing landscape of religious leadership, public service, and academic inquiry.
A scholar of education, interreligious engagement, and the history of Latin American and the Caribbean, Dr. Viera’s work explores questions of adult learning, religious identity, and pluralism, with particular attention to Latin American and Caribbean thought and decolonial epistemologies. His current writing explores the promise of interreligious learning and the formation of leaders in contexts of deep diversity, as well as the intellectual and historical traditions that shape the Caribbean and its diasporas.
Before entering academic leadership, Dr. Viera spent two decades in ministry, serving in campus and congregational settings across rural, suburban, and urban contexts. These experiences continue to shape his approach to institutional leadership, learning, and public engagement.
President Viera is a graduate of Florida Southern College, Duke University, and Yale University, and holds doctoral degrees from Columbia University (Ed.D., Adult Learning and Leadership) and the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico (Ph.D., History of Latin America). A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he brings a global and intercultural perspective to his leadership in higher education.
Writings & Videos by the President
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High-Resolution Photo
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Biography
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Office the President
Javier A. Viera, President
Vilma Franco, Executive Assistant to the President
Lori Moede, Assistant to the President for Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership
Office of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Becky Eberhart, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Jose Delpino, Coordinator for Educational Technolgoy
abby mohaupt, Director of the Garrett Collective
Honorio Morales, Coordinator of Advanced and Specialized Programs
Senior Leadership Team Members
Javier A. Viera, President
Becky Eberhart, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Joe Emmick, Vice President for Development
Carine Lopez Velazquez, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Michele Smith, Vice President of Finance and Operations and CFO
Thehil Russelliah Singh, Dean of Students
Scott Ostlund, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Jennifer Harvey, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean
Willie Sanders, Associate Vice President for Technology
Whitney Harris, Associate Vice President for Student Success
myGETS
The Garrett Collective
Events
Give
Apply
Office of the President
Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera, President
Javier A. Viera is President of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Professor of Education and Leadership. Since assuming the presidency in 2020, he has led the seminary through a period of institutional repositioning—strengthening enrollment, advancing a $100M capital campaign, reimagining the seminary’s physical and institutional presence through a transformative campus partnership with Northwestern University, deepening global and ecclesial partnerships, and guiding strategic initiatives that seek to place Garrett among the leading theological institutions in the world.
Prior to Garrett, Dr. Viera served as Dean of the Theological School at Drew University and as Vice Provost of the university. At Drew he led strategic innovation, strengthened institutional capacity, and advanced the preparation of scholars and practitioners for a rapidly changing landscape of religious leadership, public service, and academic inquiry.
A scholar of education, interreligious engagement, and the history of Latin American and the Caribbean, Dr. Viera’s work explores questions of adult learning, religious identity, and pluralism, with particular attention to Latin American and Caribbean thought and decolonial epistemologies. His current writing explores the promise of interreligious learning and the formation of leaders in contexts of deep diversity, as well as the intellectual and historical traditions that shape the Caribbean and its diasporas.
Before entering academic leadership, Dr. Viera spent two decades in ministry, serving in campus and congregational settings across rural, suburban, and urban contexts. These experiences continue to shape his approach to institutional leadership, learning, and public engagement.
President Viera is a graduate of Florida Southern College, Duke University, and Yale University, and holds doctoral degrees from Columbia University (Ed.D., Adult Learning and Leadership) and the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico (Ph.D., History of Latin America). A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he brings a global and intercultural perspective to his leadership in higher education.
Writings & Videos by the President
Explore
High-Resolution Photo
Download Now
Biography
Download Now
Office the President
Javier A. Viera, President
Vilma Franco, Executive Assistant to the President
Lori Moede, Assistant to the President for Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership
Office of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Becky Eberhart, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Jose Delpino, Coordinator for Educational Technolgoy
abby mohaupt, Director of the Garrett Collective
Honorio Morales, Coordinator of Advanced and Specialized Programs
Senior Leadership Team Members
Javier A. Viera, President
Becky Eberhart, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Joe Emmick, Vice President for Development
Carine Lopez Velazquez, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Michele Smith, Vice President of Finance and Operations and CFO
Thehil Russelliah Singh, Dean of Students
Scott Ostlund, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Jennifer Harvey, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean
Willie Sanders, Associate Vice President for Technology
Whitney Harris, Associate Vice President for Student Success