HMC elects the Reverend Dr Sofía Betancourt as Honorary Fellow

The Reverend Dr Sofía Betancourt

The Governing Body of Harris Manchester College has elected the Reverend Dr Sofía Betancourt as an Honorary Fellow.

Dr Betancourt, who is currently President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), has a PhD in Religious Ethics and African American Studies from Yale University.

She served on the Core Faculty of Starr King School for the Ministry, in Berkeley, California, for several years and has held a number of other academic appointments throughout her career, including the post of Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Drew University Theological School in New Jersey. Prior to becoming President of the UUA, she also served as minister to several Unitarian Universalist churches. She is the author of a book: Ecowomanism at the Panamá Canal: Black Women, Labor, and Environmental Ethics (2022).

Commenting on her election as an honorary fellow, Dr Betancourt, said: “I am grateful to Professor Shaw and the Governing Body of Harris Manchester College for this profound honour. As President of the UUA, I have the privilege of collaborating with Unitarian Universalist theologians on current expressions of Unitarian Universalist theologies and elevating our inherited theological tradition. It is particularly meaningful to me to have the opportunity to do so in relationship with HMC with its Unitarian roots and inclusive, dissenting spirit. I look forward to building new relationships at the College.”

HMC Principal Professor Jane Shaw said: "We are all absolutely delighted to honour Dr Betancourt and her exceptional achievements in this way, and we look forward to forging closer relationships with the Unitarian Universalist Association in the USA and to welcoming Dr Betancourt to college whenever she is able to visit.”