Creative Transformation.

I am a teacher and student.

Fernando trained as an environmental epidemiologist and medical anthropologist with interests in systems theory, phenomenology, Bayesian methods, complex humanitarian emergencies, and spiritual-therapeutic interventions. His research interests are primarily with refugees, internally displaced populations, and asylum seekers who are survivors of torture. Fernando also works with ultra-poor populations living in informal settlements. Geographically, Fernando works in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and among refugee populations in Europe and North America.

In addition to his full-time faculty responsibilities, Fernando is a full-time student at Boston University School of Theology. In Spring 2020, as a Dean’s Fellow, he completed his M.Div. (magna cum laude) in the Chaplaincy track with a certification in Religion and Conflict Transformation. In the Fall of 2020, Fernando was awarded the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Fellowship, and then in 2021, the inaugural Walter Wink and June Keener Wink Fellow with FOR-USA toward his Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership at Boston University School of Theology.

Fernando has completed RYT-200 yoga teacher training with the Yoga & Ayurveda Center. He also completed his RYT-300 in trauma-sensitive yoga with Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Certification (TCTSY-F). He completed his 300-hour Meditation Teacher training soon.

Fernando is an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition and spends his time in North America and the Netherlands.

Fernando F. Ona
Life-long Learner