Robyn Henderson-Espinoza
Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, PhD, is a non-binary Transgender and queer Latinx activist scholar. Their dynamic and inspiring presentations explore the Intersections of queer justice and anti-racism, working to dismantle supremacy cultures and displace the toxic culture of whiteness. They are passionate about gender justice as human rights work, and bridging differences within our communities, campuses, and churches.
Whether speaking to universities, communities, writing for HuffPost, Sojourners, or Religion Dispatches, Dr. Robyn uses tools learned in both the academy and activism to stand in the hybrid space of higher education, communities, and movements for justice, curating activist scholarship with deep intention of bridging with difference. When we bridge with our deepest differences and lean into new folds of relationality, we learn better how to build the kind of world we long to inhabit.
Dr. Robyn is the author of Activist Theology, published by Fortress Press (2019), in its second printing, and is also available on Audible. This searing and personal book bridges the gap between academia and activism, bringing the wisdom of the streets to the work of scholarship, all for the sake of political liberation and social change for marginalized communities. Robyn is currently at work on their second book, Becoming Embodied: a Vision for Democracy.
Dr. Robyn takes seriously their call as an activist scholar, theologian, and ethicist to bridge together theories and practices that result in communities responding to pressing social concerns. Robyn sees this work as a life-orienting vocation, deeply committed to translating theory to practice, and work that is embedded in re-imagining our moral horizon to one which privileges a politics of radical difference.
Knowing intimately that the borderlands are a place of learning and growth, Dr. Robyn draws on their identity and heritage in everything that they do. From doubt to divine and everywhere in between, their call as an activist scholar demands the vision to disrupt hegemony and colonialist structures of multi-layered oppressions. This work is important to Dr. Robyn because their own life has been lived with the ongoing challenge to be grounded in the center of their own difference as a non-binary Trans mixed-raced Latinx. This has required the thoughtful intention of bridging with their white ancestors and Mexican ancestors and with those in the queer community. As a result, their life’s vocation is one that is committed to the deep relationality of bridging with difference to help launch a new vision for humanity.
Trained as an interdisciplinary scholar, they are the founder of the Activist Theology Project, a collaborative project based in Nashville, TN, working to incubate sustainable change for social healing. They are also a Visiting Scholar at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Visiting Professor at Duke University Divinity School. Robyn was named one of 10 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2018 by the Center for American Progress.
Whether speaking to universities, communities, writing for HuffPost, Sojourners, or Religion Dispatches, Dr. Robyn uses tools learned in both the academy and activism to stand in the hybrid space of higher education, communities, and movements for justice, curating activist scholarship with deep intention of bridging with difference. When we bridge with our deepest differences and lean into new folds of relationality, we learn better how to build the kind of world we long to inhabit.
Dr. Robyn is the author of Activist Theology, published by Fortress Press (2019), in its second printing, and is also available on Audible. This searing and personal book bridges the gap between academia and activism, bringing the wisdom of the streets to the work of scholarship, all for the sake of political liberation and social change for marginalized communities. Robyn is currently at work on their second book, Becoming Embodied: a Vision for Democracy.
Dr. Robyn takes seriously their call as an activist scholar, theologian, and ethicist to bridge together theories and practices that result in communities responding to pressing social concerns. Robyn sees this work as a life-orienting vocation, deeply committed to translating theory to practice, and work that is embedded in re-imagining our moral horizon to one which privileges a politics of radical difference.
Knowing intimately that the borderlands are a place of learning and growth, Dr. Robyn draws on their identity and heritage in everything that they do. From doubt to divine and everywhere in between, their call as an activist scholar demands the vision to disrupt hegemony and colonialist structures of multi-layered oppressions. This work is important to Dr. Robyn because their own life has been lived with the ongoing challenge to be grounded in the center of their own difference as a non-binary Trans mixed-raced Latinx. This has required the thoughtful intention of bridging with their white ancestors and Mexican ancestors and with those in the queer community. As a result, their life’s vocation is one that is committed to the deep relationality of bridging with difference to help launch a new vision for humanity.
Trained as an interdisciplinary scholar, they are the founder of the Activist Theology Project, a collaborative project based in Nashville, TN, working to incubate sustainable change for social healing. They are also a Visiting Scholar at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Visiting Professor at Duke University Divinity School. Robyn was named one of 10 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2018 by the Center for American Progress.