Religious Studies

CHSS Distinguished Alumni

Isaiah Cruz

BA Religious Studies '19

Isaiah Cruz was born in Fairfax, Virginia, to a Salvadoran immigrant family whose humble roots have been the biggest influence upon his life. He is a first-generation college student, and the first person in his family to receive an undergraduate and graduate degree. Cruz graduated from Mason magna cum laude in 2019, having engaged in research on American evangelicalism under the mentorship of Professor John Turner. Cruz presented his research at the undergraduate conference on faith and history at Calvin University in fall 2018, as well as at two undergraduate research symposia at Mason. 
 
Isaiah received a master of arts in theological studies from Beeson Divinity School (Samford University) in 2021. During his time in seminary, Isaiah developed a deep appreciation for Latin American Christianity and his own Salvadoran background. He quickly realized he needed to use his gifts to address some of the most pressing issues in Central America. His next step will be to pursue an MA in Latin American studies at Georgetown University with a focus on governance and the protection of human rights. Isaiah’s ultimate goal is to work with a government agency or nonprofit that focuses on Central America.