#120. Diversity is a Gift, Not a Threat


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Feb 11 2025 27 mins  

Dr. Octavio Esqueda, full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, shares on higher education for Christian minorities.

Dr Esqueda's Website

Dr Esqueda's Website (Spanish)

Dr Esqueda's Books

Dr Esqueda on X.com

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

  • Challenges of Hispanic faculty in Christian colleges
  • Why context is important (Bible translation)
  • Unity in the church

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Octavio Javier Esqueda is a full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He was born and raised in Guadalajara, México. He graduated with honors with a Licenciatura in Latin American Literature from the University of Guadalajara and two additional diplomas, one in Religion and Society and the second in Journalism. He graduated with honors from Dallas Theological Seminary and completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of North Texas. He and his wife, Angélica, have two children, Darío and Salma. Dr. Esqueda has several publications on theological education and Christian higher education, practical theology, and literature. Teaching is his passion, and he has had the opportunity to teach in several countries on different academic levels. He is an avid soccer fan.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:19 - Introducing Dr Octavio Esqueda

03:11 - What caused Dr Esqueda to enter educational studies

03:33 - ...asked to teach a lesson in Sunday School at age 12

04:04 - ...teaching middle school at age 19

04:16 - ...teaching high school at age 22

04:22 - ...teaching college at age 24

04:30 - ...liked to teach and wanted to study more about his faith

05:29 - ...started teaching at Biola University 14 years ago

06:54 - Career path to being an educator is different for everyone

08:05 - Edited a new book: The Hispanic Faculty Experience

08:22 - ...relates to previous question about career paths

08:30 - ...Christian schools are more interested in reaching out to the Hispanic students

08:55 - ...conversation about Hispanic faculty members in Christian higher education

09:13 - ...need more Hispanic faculty if we want more Hispanic students

09:51 - Christian schools closing because lack of students

10:39 - Hispanics are not a current trend

10:48 - Institutions now need to reach out to minorities

11:34 - Challenges that Hispanic faculty face

12:12 - ...few mentors

12:18 - ...learning how to navigate the system

12:23 - ...mainstream culture dictates the way things are

13:18 - Theological example: translating to "righteousness" vs "justice"

16:37 - Bible teaching applies to everyone

17:11 - The Bible focuses on the community

18:21 - Collective approach to teaching the Bible

20:20 - Diversity is a gift, not a threat

22:24 - The church can change the world

23:46 - God intended to create unity in the church in Christ

25:08 - Contacting Dr Esqueda: amazon.com | x.com/OctavioEsqueda | LinkedIn

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