Though the specifics of his research interests took shape during his formal training, his passion for the arts, scholarship, and the life of the church have been formulated since a young age. Born in Puerto Rico to professional musicians, Nieves-Rosario was raised in a curious and creative house of faith. In addition to being a concert pianist, his father was also the pastor of the Pentecostal church Nieves-Rosario attended for most of his childhood. 

“I remember,” he says, “being very curious about theology and apologetics as a young child. I would ask my father, Why believe in the God of the Bible instead of in Buddhism or Confucianism? And he would say to me that he didn’t have all the answers but that we could look for them together.” They brought books home from the library and discussed them around the table. They debated about theories of atonement and theodicies.

And they played music. Nieves-Rosario learned guitar as a child and earned his bachelor’s in jazz, Caribbean music, and electric guitar at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico in San Juan. Throughout high school, he played for the worship team at his father’s church, and in college, he continued his musical ministry at Iglesia la Travesía Church. This congregation recognized Nieves-Rosario’s gifts and approached him about pursuing more formal theological training.

During his time at the Seminary, Nieves-Rosario also discovered Jeremy Begbie’s teaching about the Trinity and music. “I became very interested in how my training as a jazz musician could inform my studies, and when I discovered Begbie, I knew I wanted to study at Duke for a doctorate.”

During his first discussion with Prof. Begbie, Nieves-Rosario saw how jazz music related to the Christian faith more deeply. “It is a communal event. That is what makes it stand out from other art forms. All members of the ensemble must listen to each other. There is call and response, as there should be between members of the church and the Spirit.” He was thrilled when he received acceptance to the doctoral program. 

And already his coursework in Latin American theology with Duke Divinity Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric, and theological anthropology with Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology Norman Wirzba have enhanced his research. Through these courses, he has become convinced that the lens of Latin-American culture and anthropology is essential for his project. “Latin America understands humanity and existence communally. There is no concept of an individual. You see this in the culture and in the church, where they collectively improvise coritos (‘little choruses’) to God in worship.” 

Indeed, Nieves-Rosario’s heritage—and the church—remain central to his research. “I always want to keep the church in my purview. It is for the good of the body that I study. That’s why I came to do a Th.D.” The Th.D.’s integration of theology and praxis were key for Nieves-Rosario.

As he says, “the struggle of faith is always how to improvise beautifully in step with the Spirit.”