We celebrate alumni stories to hear each others’ journeys since high school and to be inspired  through lives of service, professional contributions, embodiment of the love of Jesus, and community engagement. Nominations are accepted in the spring of each year and reviewed by the selection committee of the EMS Alumni Board. The EMS learning community and alumni celebrate the stories over fall Homecoming. Learn more. 

Rolando Santiago’s Life-Changing Year at Eastern Mennonite School

Rolando with Roommate Sidney Weaver and Family

A Leap into a New World  

At just 17, Rolando Santiago took a courageous step, leaving his Spanish-speaking home in Puerto Rico to immerse himself in the English-speaking environment of Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Drawn by his Mennonite heritage and a desire to prepare for college in the U.S., Rolando found friendship and belonging amidst growth at EMHS in his senior year. Reflecting on his experience, he recalls, “I was warmly welcomed at EMHS, and I cherished my experience there.” This supportive environment became the foundation for a year rich in exploration and personal growth.

Rolando EMHS Graduation

Harmony and Exploration

Music became a cornerstone of Rolando’s EMS experience. As a member of the Touring Choir, his voice resonated beyond the school’s walls, even contributing to the recording of an album—a memory he recalls with a smile. His passion for music was further nurtured through voice lessons with Mr. Marvin Miller, instilling a love for harmony that continues to enrich his life today.

Guided by Mentors

The influence of educators Jim Rush and Harvey Yoder was pivotal in shaping Rolando’s outlook on the world. Mr. Rush’s engaging projects ignited Rolando’s interest in government and social issues, engaging in serious conversation about the pressing issues of the day, including the draft. Mr. Yoder’s course on emergent issues provided invaluable insights into church and community building—a theme that would become central to Rolando’s professional and personal endeavors.

From Education to Professional Life

Rolando L. Santiago, PhD, retired in 2024 after a distinguished career in both church and public service organizations at local, state, and national levels. His most recent role was as Chief of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services in Montgomery County, MD, where he led a team of 260 professionals, serving over 12,000 individuals annually with a $61 million budget.

Spanning fourteen years in public behavioral health services, including seven years with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rolando’s work focused on evaluating programs supporting children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders. He also dedicated twenty years to faith-based Anabaptist Mennonite organizations, notably serving as Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee U.S for six of those years.

Rolando has served on health and human service boards globally and lectured at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for two decades. His academic achievements include earning a PhD in educational psychology and statistics from the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Rolando at Speaking Event

A Life Rooted in Faith and Service

Rolando is an active member of Neffsville Mennonite Church, where he leads the missions committee, sings in the choir, and teaches adult Sunday School. Alongside his wife of 43 years, Raquel Trinidad, he cherishes time with their two children and five grandchildren. His passions include caring for his 93-year-old mother, running, gardening, and contributing to writing projects on the Mennonite experience in Puerto Rico.

Rolando Santiago’s story is evidence that EMS  – a  place where faith, community, and learning intertwine – shapes lives of purpose and service. As we celebrate his journey then and now, we are reminded of the enduring influence of education in the Eastern Mennonite tradition and the transformative power of a single year dedicated to growth and discovery and the bravery it took to venture into the unknown and beyond.