Board of Directors
founder and President
Aris Sánchez
Rev. Aris Sánchez is originally from the Dominican Republic and grew up in NYC. He is an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church. He has an evangelistic heart and a passion to bring the gospel to those who have been marginalized. He also has a calling to plant churches and provide sound theological education in Philadelphia and in Latin America. Aris is the General Director of the Santiago Theological Seminary in Santiago, DR.
He has been a speaker at the American Bible Society on Racial Reconciliation issues and a speaker at Faith & Spiritual Affairs Conference advocating for immigrants and refugee communities. A student at heart, he holds a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary as well as a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College in NY. He enjoys rich fellowship over classic dishes such as mangu and roasted chicken. Aris and his wife (Kirsten) have two children.
Vice President
Bruce McDowell
Dr. Bruce A. McDowell has been president of Santiago Theological Seminary in Santiago, Dominican Republic since its founding in 2018. He formerly served as Minister of Global Outreach at Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia, PA (1982-2017). Born as a missionary kid in Paraguay, he has traveled and ministered in 48 countries. He has been involved in international student ministry, leading short-term teams, and conference speaking. He holds degrees from Alderson Broaddus University (B.A.), Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.A.T.S.), Westminster Theological Seminary (D.Min.), and American University of Biblical Studies (Ph.D.). He has served as adjunct faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary, lectured in seminaries around the world, and authored eight books. Bruce and his wife Anne are missionaries with Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship. He has two adult daughters and a toddler foster daughter.
Treasurer
Susan Baker
Dr. Susan S. Baker has been involved with cross-cultural ministry among African Americans and Hispanics for 55 years, has a Ph.D. in Sociology from Temple University, has been involved in the start-up of three Christian elementary schools in the U.S. and an apprenticeship school for urban ministry leaders, has written curriculum for an undergrad program of Geneva College in ministry leadership, and has taught in a number of seminaries, primarily Westminster Theological Seminary and Biblical Theological Seminary.
secretary
Elisa King
Ms. Elisa King is a native of Samana, Dominican Republic. She received a Bachelor in Communication Studies from Millersville University. She received a Master in Human Services with a concentration in Counseling from Lincoln University. She also has a Master of Divinity in Biblical Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. She has been in Human Services for more than 15 years.
She also works as an Outpatient Therapist for the Arch Dioceses of Philadelphia and serves as an Adjunct Chaplain at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. She's a licensed professional counselor and is a tenured instructor in the Community College of Philadelphia’s Counseling Department.