Lis Valle, Ph.D.

Rev. Lis Valle-Ruiz joined McCormick Theological Seminary in 2018 from Nashville, TN. She earned her PhD in Homiletics and Liturgics from Vanderbilt University, where she also studied gender and sexuality. Her dissertation, “As One Among Many: Affirming a Multitude of Embodied Preaching Practices,” analyzes pulpit preaching through public speech, street preaching through symbolic action, and preaching through theater and proposes that these are three paradigms among many others in the repertoire of embodied Christian preaching practices among which preachers may choose.

Rev. Valle received a ThM in Homiletics from Princeton Theological Seminary and an MDiv from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She also holds a JD from the University of Puerto Rico. With a BA in Education with an emphasis in Theater, Valle has continued to combine her study of theology and passion for justice with her work as an actress and an artistic director.

Rev. Valle is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Academy of Homiletics, and the ARC Creative Collaborative for Theopoetics, among other professional organizations. She has been a fellow with the Forum for Theological Exploration and the Hispanic Theological Initiative/Consortium.

Lis has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 2013.

Courses Taught:

• Workshop: Prayer Collective: Lament, Worship & Prayer (Summer 2021)