IATS Launches Search for Next Seminary President

Board appoints search committee as Dr. Efraín Velázquez plans to step down; new admissions officer and registrar voted in.

September 8, 2025 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division

The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) held a special board meeting on Sept. 4 to establish a search committee tasked with selecting the seminary’s next president to lead the postgraduate theological studies institution.

Dr. Efraín Velázquez, who has served at IATS for nearly 17 years—11 as president and five as vice president of academic affairs—announced his departure after much prayer with his family, particularly following the loss of his eldest son last year. He shared that when he accepted the presidency in 2022, he was intentional about serving only two terms, convinced that leadership also means preparing the way for others to grow and develop. “From that moment, I began a succession plan,” he said.

“I come from the old school where the church is a priority, and I have always said we should ‘die with our boots on.’ But we have been hit hard, and after much prayer, we have made the decision to serve as local church pastor in Tennessee.”

He said that moving would allow him and his wife to be closer to their three children—two attending university in the United States, and the youngest soon graduating from high school.

“To me, pastoring a church is the highest calling, and now that we need to implement a succession plan, the proper step is to establish a search committee,” Velázquez said. “We have the process outlined, and we are praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead this work.”

Velázquez, who also serves as secretary of the IATS board, explained that the position description is included in the seminary’s working policy.

Pastor Abner De los Santos, president of the Inter-American Division (IAD) and chairman of the IATS board, addressed the board members—mostly IAD administrators and 25 union presidents—saying his first reaction was to try to convince Dr. Velázquez to stay, as he had hoped to continue working with him at IATS. “We understand the family’s needs and are not going to rush this,” he said. “Dr. Velázquez has agreed to serve with us until December while we search for the next leader for this important position.”

Board members voted to appoint the members of the search committee to begin the process of selecting the next IATS president. The committee includes the one General Conference education department leader and, from the IAD territory, the division education director, ministerial secretary, one vice president, one IATS representative, one union president, one theology dean, one university president, and the three IAD administrators.

Board leaders said the search committee is scheduled to present a nominee for the next IATS president to be voted on during the IAD Year-End Executive Committee meetings in November.

New Admissions Officer and Registrar

“The person I am recommending can fill this position because she possesses all the necessary qualities to fulfill that position and has worked in the area of education for many years,” said Velazquez before proposing her name as registrar and of admissions for IATS.

IATS Board members voted to appoint Yanet Cima as the new admissions officer and registrar. Cima has served as assistant education director of the Inter-American Division since 2021, overseeing the Division’s Adventist Virtual Library (BiVa). Originally from Nicaragua, she brings more than 35 years of experience in the church organization, including roles as union education director in Guatemala and as a teacher and principal in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize. She holds a doctorate in Education from Atlantic International University.

Cima will replace Ketlie Henry as head of admissions and registrar at IATS. Mrs. Henry, who has served the seminary for 25 years—since before its establishment—and the church denomination for over 30 years, has chosen to retire. She will remain in her role for the remainder of the year to support a smooth transition for Cima.

“We have had the benefit of enjoying the work of Mrs. Henry, who has been very capable in overseeing such an important position for an institution like IATS,” said Pastor Luis Rivera, president of the Puerto Rican Union. “Her communication skills and specialized qualities have been extremely valuable.”

The IATS board members registered a vote of gratitude for Ketlie Henry’s dedicated service as admissions officer and registrar of the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary.

About IATS

The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) is a non-profit, postgraduate theological studies institution established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD) and registered in both Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It was created to provide training for Christian ministry and to equip leaders to proclaim the hope of the Advent message worldwide. Its academic and faculty offices are located on the campus of Antillean Adventist University in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

The IATS building includes administrative offices, professors’ offices, three smart classrooms, a conference room, a large study area, a specialized library, and a media studio for long-distance learning programs.

IATS offers a master’s degree in pastoral theology with specializations in youth ministries, family life, chaplaincy, church growth, mission, and leadership and administration; a master’s degree in biblical theological studies with concentrations in Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology; and a doctorate in ministry with focuses in pastoral leadership, chaplaincy, and administration, as well as PhD in Biblical-Theological Studies with specializations in Old and New Testament. Over the past 25 years, the Seminary has awarded postgraduate degrees to more than 1,200 ministers.