Patrick B. Pat Reyes

About Patrick B. Pat Reyes

Dedicated to creating conditions for the next generation to thrive as a nonprofit #leader and institutional strategist, I am committed to building diverse teams to solve some of the most complex communal problems. As a #scholar and #writer, I investigate the way #meaning and #purpose emerge in marginalized communities. The research informs the strategies and practices deployed by administrators, organizations, and leaders to drive equitable access to resources. As an administrator, I drive innovation and foster mission-driven deployment of personnel and resources to maximize impact, with specializations in diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and design.BIOA Chicano writer, theologian, and hope-filled leader, Rev. Patrick B. Reyes, Ph.D, Auburn Theological Seminary’s Dean and Executive Vice President, and the award-winning author of The Purpose Gap (2021) and Nobody Cries When We Die (2017). The Council of Independent Colleges NetVUE selected The Purpose Gap as the Big Read for 20••••23.Patrick provides leadership on several boards in theological and higher education, publications, and the nonprofit sector, supporting the next generation of Black, Indigenous, and Chicano spiritual and cultural leaders. He is a current board director for the American Academy of Religion and serves as the Co-Dean of the Freedom Seminary for the Children’s Defense Fund. He is a past board president of the Religious Education Association. In the last decade, he has been recognized for his service and scholarship by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Boston University, Drew University, Duke Leadership, Children’s Defense Fund, Hispanic Theological Initiative, Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy, and Raices Latinas, among others. Patrick was recently inducted into the Morehouse College MLK Jr. Collegium of Scholars. Patrick holds a doctorate and masters from Claremont School of Theology, an M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology, and is a proud graduate of California State University, Sacramento.

Experience

1. Executive Vice President and Dean

   Auburn Theological Seminary

   Jul 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   I played a crucial role in guiding Auburn Theological Seminary through a transitional leadership phase, emphasizing strategic design and community engagement. • Developing and implementing strategies to support organizational objectives. • Cultivating partnerships that strengthened community ties and enhanced the seminary\'s outreach efforts. • Focused on strategic design to ensure the institution\'s long-term sustainability and mission alignment. • Shepherding the strategic planning process. • Developing a business plan for a ten-generation institution in the 21st century. Read more at https://auburnseminary.org/stories/2025-09/celebrating-auburn-seminarys-faithful-leadership-journey

Education

• Claremont School of Theology

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Practical Theology: Religious Education

  2011 — 2015

• Boston University School of Theology

  Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Theology/Theological Studies

  2008 — 2011