Curriculum Vitae

Robyn E. Henderson-Espinoza

Currently located in Chicago, IL

Email: robyn at irobyn dot com

http://www.irobyn.com

FIELD OF INTEREST
I am interested in pursuing a PhD in the field Theology, particularly addressing the complex ethical and/or social issues in investigating the conceptual developments and understandings of migrations, borders and violence and the ways in which identity is formed.

CAREER OBJECTIVE
Teaching is the main focus regarding my interest in pursuing doctoral work. Additionally, pursuing doctoral work in the field of Theology will provide an avenue to braid together elements of teaching, research, and social activism, all of which is something I will incorporate into my pedagogy.

EDUCATION

• 2006 Master of Theological Studies (Theology & Ethics). Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Thesis Entitled: Dreaming of Our Future Together: Birthing Ecclesial Feminism. [A Systematic analysis of the Theology of Maria Pilar Aquino]. This thesis is bound and available from the United Library on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
• 2006 Clinical Pastoral Education. Level II Clinical Residency, board certifiable. Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, IL.
• 2004-2005 Clinical Pastoral Education. Level I. Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village, IL.
• 2001-2002 Post-Graduate Work emphasizing on Philosophical Theology and Ethics (Religion). Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, TX under the supervision of Rev. Dr. Dan Stiver and Rev. Dr. Robert P. Sellers.
• 2001 Bachelor of Arts (Theology). Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. Minor: Leadership.

AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Religion Member since 2000
American Anthropology Association Member since 2007

AWARDS

• 2002-2005 Seminary Award while pursuing a Master’s degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
• 2001-2002 Grant while pursuing post-graduate work at Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX.
• 1995-2001 Ministerial Grant for undergraduate students pursuing a degree in the Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX.
• 1996-2001 Scholarship for the Institute of Leadership Studies, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. This Scholarship guarantees four years of classes for the Institute of Leadership Studies and is given to students who meet grade point average criteria and faculty sponsorship.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE & GROUP FACILITATION

• 2006 Parent Support Group for Survivors of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault, Violence Recovery Services of Heartland Human Care Services.
• 2006 Spanish language Support Group for Survivors of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault, Violence Recovery Services of Heartland Human Care Services.
• 2005 Spirituality Group for patients admitted to Mental Health, Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, IL. This service was in conjunction with my clinical resident training as a chaplain.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 2006-Present State of Illinois, Office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Crime Victim Services Division: I serve the Crime Victims Compensation Bureau assisting victims and survivors of violent crimes. My responsibilities include the daily reviewing of cases, filings, providing and gathering information, and preparing reports. Additionally, I obtain information by contacting witnesses, attorneys, claimants, and others. My work is highly administrative focusing on developing questions, reviewing files and documents, drafting Court Orders, and conducting research among other administrative tasks. I serve as a resource in areas of general and/or specialized knowledge, attend meetings, and assist in the preparation of public education materials. Chicago, IL.
• 2006-2007 Trauma Support Case Manager. [Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Legal Advocacy], Violence Recovery Services Heartland Human Care Services, an affiliate of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Chicago, IL.
• 2006-Present Nine19, Inc. Consultant. Nine19 is a small business financial consultant–including basic financial setup, workflow processes, hiring, and company growth. My contribution as a consultant is with writing and editing of employee manuals and policies.
• 2006-2007 Starbucks. Barista. Provided support and resources in compliance with Starbucks standards, Chicago, IL.
• 2005-2006 Chaplain. Level II Clinical Residency training: Pastoral, Legal & Ethical Advisor for Critical Care, Cardiac Surveillance Units, Post-Surgery, and Labor/Delivery, Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, IL.
• 2004-2005 Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Faith Passage Mentor. Fait Passage was a Lilly funded yearlong spiritual and leadership (Wesleyan) development program committed to nurturing and empowering 30 high school youth in making a “faith passage” from adolescence to adulthood, Evanston, IL.
• 2003-2005 Manager of the Student Computing Lab & Media Services Resource. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL.
• 2002-2003 Computer Lab Monitor & Media Coordinator. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL.
• 2002-2004 United Library. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL.
• 2001-2002 Substitute Teacher. Abilene Independent School District, Abilene, TX.
• 1993-1999 Independent Consultant for Student and Young Adult Ministries primarily with Texas Baptists.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• 2007 Course Marshall for the Chicago Bike Federation, Chicago, IL.
• 2007 Lead Volunteer for His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Chicago, IL.
• 2006-Present Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, IL Chapter [mentor and participant for the Illinois Cycle Team].
• 2003-2004 Student Body President, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
• 2001-2002 Visitor to those admitted into the hospital or others who were homebound in conjunction with my local faith community while attending college, Abilene, TX.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
My academic interests include Narrative and Social Ethics: Borders and Borderlands. Feminism and Sexuality. Economics and Economies. Race, Class, and Gender. Ethnicity, Identity and Group Formation. Migration and Violence. Border, Feminist, Queer, and Nomadic Theories. Semiotics.

In terms of a dissertation topic, I am very interested in the relationship of OR between narrative, borders, and identity. In particular, how do narrative[s] and borders inform or disrupt identity and the formation of identity, and equally how does violence shape both our own personal narrative and identity[ies]. To pursue this work, I hope to use Derrida’s Metaphysics of Presence, Maria Pilar Aquino and Nancy Bedford’s Theology of Interculturality, along with Annelise Riles’ “unwinding,” buttressing all of this with feminist, border & queer Theories/theologies.

My future research will be interdisciplinary in nature and method using Social Ethics in an attempt to evaluate complex social issues that perhaps are able to be informed from a theological/ethical perspective. Fundamentally, I understand Theology to be both Systematic and Constructive, having both a history and a future. My point of departure in all things is the recognition of the interlocking reality of sexism, racism, and classism, the fundamental marginalization that the systems of privilege and power perpetuate. It is my hope that my future research will be informed not only by the field of Theology but also by Social-Cultural Anthropology & Linguistics, as well. Additionally, future research will focus on the conceptual, symbolic, and literal developments of borders, narrative, and identity formation, as theology has a particular interest in community and the nature of community. In particular, I am interested in continuing to investigate the variety of elements that create borders, produce narrative, inform identity, and contribute to or disrupt the formations of identities. The question of borders and identity and the role of violence is of particular importance in evaluating social theory and the ways in which communities come to understand themselves. This research necessitates the use of feminist, border, and queer theories, along with social identity theory and the fundamental primary use of feminist and liberation theology. Furthermore, using my master’s thesis as a point of departure of theological anthropology and an interest in intercultural theology, I have definite interests in expanding my professor’s definition of feminist theology/theological feminism. Dr. Bedford writes: “I understand feminism as a multifaceted movement of praxis/reflection that has the varied flourishing of women of all ages and conditions as its immediate goal, abundant life for all of creation as its ultimate vision, and the dynamic equality and mutuality of women and men of all ages as its normative horizon.” I have sought to expand this definition by utilizing the language of borders and margins and avoiding the language of equality, as it often perpetuates “identicalness.” Furthermore, I am equally interested in modality and representation as it relates to role of signs in the construction of reality[ies].

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• 2004-2006 Research Assistant and Digital Editor. Aided in digitizing a book on Henry Steele Olcott to be published by the Theosophy Society, Wheaton, IL. Dr. Daniel Chandler, Evanston, IL.
• 2003-2004 Research Assistant gathering library materials and bibliographies for the publication of a manuscript, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL Dr. Gennifer Brooks.

WORKING PAPERS | ARTICLES FOR SUBMISSION

1. Defining Migration: Act or Signifier?
2. Migration and Decay: Efforts to Understand Migration and Violence.
3. Borders as signposts?: Exploring the possibility of the borders of gender neutrality and/or being gendered.
4. La Frontera/Borderlands: A Function, A Dynamism, and A Reality and the role of Theological Ethics. [An essay exploring the nature of borders, seen and unseen. What are borders? How do they function? Where is violence located in the creation or sustaining of borders?]
5. A project being coordinated by The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, creating Chicago: An Immigrant City, an exciting anthology of contemporary reflections on the immigrant experience written by immigrants, activists, scholars, and youth. Utilizing the works of Foucault and Baudrillard, I am considering the conceptual and symbolic understandings of borders. As a queer-mestiza migrant, I am looking at both my own memory regarding the ways in which I’ve “chosen” to migrate and the ways in which I am “forced” to migrate. Furthermore, how exactly have I migrated; over what borders have I crossed?

REFERENCES

Upon Request

updated October 2007