MADISON, N.J.—Otto Maduro, professor of world Christianity and Latin American Christianity at Drew University’s Theological School, passed away on May 9 at the age of 68. Maduro, who joined the Drew faculty in 1992, was known as a prolific author and multilingual teacher in his public life, and as a gracious and kind individual by those who knew him personally. His professional acclaim extended beyond the university through his many guest lectures and visiting professorships, as well as his recent service as the first-ever Hispanic president of the American Academy of Religion.

“It has been my great honor to serve as dean to a scholar of such significance and a person of such gentleness,” said Jeffrey Kuan, dean of the Theological School. “We have lost a great theologian and a great friend.”

More than 250 of Maduro’s current and former students and colleagues echoed Kuan’s praise by posting their remembrances on an online tribute page.

Maduro was born in Venezuela in 1945. He earned two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. from the Catholic University in Louvain, Belgium, before coming to the United States in 1987. His life’s work includes over a hundred articles published in a dozen languages on five continents, and five books in five languages—many of which address his scholarly interest in how religion relates to the liberation of oppressed groups. Much of his work also tackled wider issues of peace, social and ecological justice, epistemologies and sexualities.

According to Laurel Kearns, associate professor of sociology of religion, Maduro’s scholarship and passion for justice earned him his global reputation.

“I had the sense that we had a prophet among us,” she said. “Otto was willing to speak truth to power and, in doing so, called us to justice.”

Maduro’s widespread prominence took him around the nation and world as a visiting professor. Among many other institutions, he taught at the USC School of Religion, Maryknoll School of Theology, Union Theological Seminary, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Notre Dame, Candler School of Theology and at his alma mater in Belgium.

His status as a globally recognized scholar of religion was reaffirmed as recently as March 2013, when he was featured on an NPR broadcast on Pope Francis’ historic election.

In addition to his international repute, Kearns said he was also a devoted and integral member of the Drew community. His legacy at the university lives on through the Hispanic D.Min. program and the Hispanic Institute of Theology, which he co-founded in the late 1990s.

Maduro was also a past winner of the Will Herberg Distinguished Professor Award from Drew’s Graduate Students’ Association as well as the prize for teaching excellence awarded by the Graduate Division of Religion.

A service in honor of his retirement was held in Seminary Hall’s Craig Chapel last week. Photos from that event have been published on the university’s Facebook page as a tribute to the late professor. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m. in the Craig Chapel at Seminary Hall on Drew’s Madison campus.

The Fund for Hispanic Latina/o Scholars and Ministry (Fondo Para Academicos y Ministerios Hispanos Latina/os) has been established at Drew to commemorate Maduro’s legacy. To make a gift in his memory, please visit the fund’s website or call the Office of Advancement at (973) 408-3644.–Michael Bressman ‘06

For more on Otto Maduro’s legacy, please see Drew Magazine’s 2008 article on his work with Newark churches and his interview with the American Academy of Religion.

Take a bow. You’ve earned it.

• Student Activities Recognition Awards
  Recognition Awards Program

• Arts of Respect
  • Literary:
    • First Prize: True Dapilma ’16 - “I Propose Peace” (spoken word)
    • Honorable Mention: Second-year DMH student Christine Chiosi (2nd-year DMH) – “Double Bird Strike” (poem)
  • Performing:
    • First Prize: Aubrey Fewell ’13 – “Different Shades of Brown” (song)
    • Honorable Mention: Rachel Schachter ’13– “I Called to Say Goodbye” (song)
  • Visual:
    • First Prize: Michelle Gamboa ‘13 – “Project Wings” (mixed media)
    • Honorable Mention: Lauren Belcastro ‘13 – “Namaste” (drawing)
    • Honorable Mention: EvaJo Alvarez ’13 – “Diversity” (photograph)

Drew University: Submit your captions!

Drew University: A Friendship Some Wouldn’t Think Could Happen. Two students find a deep connection, and then put it to the test in a cookoff on Feb. 8.

Drew University: Join Lillie J. Edwards, Professor of History and African-American Studies tomorrow, Feb. 2 at the at the Chatham-Summit Quaker Meeting for a viewing of the film “Brother Outsider.” “The award-winning documentary presents the life and work of Bayard Rustin, the influential African-American Quaker who orchestrated the historic March on Washington in 1963.” Read more on nj.com: http://bit.ly/XYQmte‘Brother Outsider’ film will be shown on Feb. 2 in Chathamwww.nj.comFree and open to the public, the film “Brother Outsider” will be shown on Saturday evening, Feb. 2, at Chatham-Summit Quaker Meeting in Chatham.

From Jan. 14-18, the Theological School will continue its tradition of preparing students for inclusive ministries by offering a course on how mental and physical disabilities can act as a barrier to church involvement. Taught by United Methodist Bishop Peggy Johnson, a leading advocate for the handicapped, the one-week intensive seminar reinforces Drew’s commitment to serving the disabled while training future graduates to do the same, says Associate Dean Virginia Samuel-Cetuk.

“Approaching disabilities from a theological perspective requires reflection on issues of wholeness and humanity,” says Samuel-Cetuk. “It also challenges students to discover new ways of advancing social justice. Bishop Johnson is the perfect person to lead this conversation at Drew.”

Johnson is well aware of the deterrents that keep the disabled from active engagement with faith communities, from buildings that aren’t handicapped accessible to sermons that aren’t offered in sign language.

“My course will consist of broad brushstrokes, touching upon these issues and the larger themes of awareness, access and advocacy,” she says. “It’s the clarion call of the church to open its doors to all—and where the disabled are concerned, my message is we need to do better.”—Michael Bressman

Drew’s deep-seated culture of service will get a boost from a new classroom- and community-based program that connects academics and activism

Research shows that today’s college students are more service-minded than ever before, which is especially apparent at Drew University, where a new program in Civic Leadership will launch in the spring. According to Amy Koritz, director of the school’s Center for Civic Engagement, the new program—funded by a $10,000 grant from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU)—is designed to meet students’ demand for learning opportunities that have a positive impact on their community, nation and world.

“My interest in starting this program stemmed from an onslaught of inquiries from motivated Drew students who wanted to join the Civic Scholars,” she says, referring to the university’s popular program for undergraduates who are selected to participate at the time of admission. “This made me realize that Drew has many more budding community activists who might benefit from a structured opportunity to develop their leadership skills while becoming more engaged in issues that they care about.”

Koritz says the Civic Leadership program will bring together various university departments—both academic and non-academic—to create a learning experience that’s rooted in class work, field work and a series of workshops designed to strengthen core skills.

“We envision the program involving Drew’s Center for Civic Engagement, in addition to its Center for Career Development, Academic Internship Office and Department of Student Activities,” she says. “Together, these departments can draw upon their individual strengths and purposes to offer students a mixture of credit-bearing requirements and community-based learning opportunities.”

Drew’s grant from AACU was awarded in partnership with the Bringing Theory to Practice Project (BTtoP). The university was one of only seven schools selected to receive a program development grant.—Michael Bressman