Over 20 years of leadership formation

For over 23 years, the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA), in partnership with The United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church, has supported high school and college students as they explore their calls to ministry and higher education, strengthen their faith, and serve their churches and communities. HYLA identifies, recruits, and facilitates the leadership formation of these students while helping them discover and embrace their relationship with God throughout their education.

HYLA students gather each summer to consider Christian discipleship, vocational development, leadership in the church, college resources, and other issues relevant to the development of leaders in the church universal.

Additionally, HYLA connects students with clergy, academics, seminarians, and other leaders in the Methodist and Episcopal traditions for mentorship and support.

HYLA

Our mission

The Hispanic* Youth Leadership Academy is a coalition of youth and young adult student leaders. We discern our calls to ministry through the pursuit of higher education, awareness of social issues, spiritual and mental growth, and our awakening as leaders. We develop our leadership skills as we discover our passions through practice within the church and our individual communities. We unite together in solidarity through our shared experience and are committed to helping the Pueblo Latino,** regardless of legal status, in order to transform the world.

THE Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy in the united states is a registered 501(c)(3) organization with the secretary of the commonwealth of massachusetts. Hyla is overseen by the board of directors and run by the national staff.

Board of directors
Board of directors

NATIONAL STAFF

  • A woman with long black hair, glasses, and earrings, wearing a gray blazer, posing against a plain white background.

    The Rev. Cristian De La Rosa, PH.D.

    Executive Director

    Cristian is an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church.

  • A young woman with long dark hair, glasses, and a warm smile, wearing a white satin top and a gold necklace with a car pendant, standing against a neutral gray background.

    Valentina San Juan Villamizar

    National Program Director

    Valentina is a second-year MDiv student at Boston University School of Theology and has served in ecumenical and cross-cultural youth ministries since the age of 14 in Colombia, Italy, and the United States. Valentina serves as the new National Program Director for HYLA USA (2026), after three years coordinating HYLA Colombia (2022).

  • A smiling woman with curly blonde hair wearing sunglasses, a blue patterned sleeveless shirt, and earrings, standing outdoors in a lush green park with trees in the background.

    The Rev. Paola Marquez

    National Assistant Director

    Paola is a Ph.D. candidate at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary studying Christian Education with a minor in Theological and Ethical Studies. They are ordained in the Methodist Church of Colombia. Paola served as the National Program Coordinator for HYLA USA from 2023-2025. 

  • A woman with curly black hair smiling against a black background, wearing a white shirt.

    Hannah Dias

    Events Coordinator

    Hannah Dias is a Master of Divinity student at Boston University School of Theology. Brazilian, Methodist by birth, and the daughter of Methodist pastors, she has experience with several NGOs that seek social justice for marginalized communities in Brazil.

  • Mayra Walters

    Assistant Administrative Director

    Mayra is a graduate student at the Boston University School of Theology pursuing a Master of Divinity. She is pursuing ordination in the United Methodist church and has worked with vulnerable populations in the Rio Grande region of the United States and Mexico.