Students celebrate the life and legacy of Christian leader Dr. Jesse Miranda for paving pathways to higher education

Family and friends gathered on Monday to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Jesse Miranda through the premiere of his biographical documentary “Always a Seat at the Table: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Jesse Miranda.” 

He was a nationally recognized Latino evangelical leader whose vision helped unite Latino communities and expand leadership pathways for young people across Southern California. 

He died in 2019 and one year later the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa was established. 

The center has three pillars: campus, community and the church, said Celina Canales, director of the center.

“For campus, we do mentorship, leadership development, retention efforts to keep our students from coming in all the way to graduating and finding their purpose later on,” she said. “For church and community, we are all about partnering with key organizations to help move forward Kingdom initiatives that build cities and community development.”   

Vanguard is a Christian university, which is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) for having about 49% of students who identify as Hispanic/Latino. 

The documentary highlights the commitment to empower first-generation and Latino students.

“I believe that the young people have a vision for the future and I would hope that they would prophecy, and the best way to prophecy is to be able to embrace people of the world that we are able to show compassion and not just judgement,” says Dr. Miranda in the opening of his documentary. “Young people, this is your hour to be faithful in your generation.”

A proud family moment

Susan Miranda, wife of Dr. Miranda, arrived at the luncheon with the majority of the family including her three children, eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

She said she felt humbled and proud because of the influence her husband left on so many people.

“He taught here and I’m very proud of the fact that they’ve continued this with his legacy in the Miranda Center,” Susan said.

While Dr. Miranda was accomplishing impressive tasks through his leadership skills and teachings at the university level, he never forgot his roots, according to Susan. 

She also said what Latinos are experiencing under the current administration would have made Dr. Miranda feel troubled but also hopeful, as many of his mentees are now taking up the banner.

“We can’t be silent, we can be respectful but we have to speak up,” she said. “I think as Hispanics we have to rise above whatever is happening and stand together.” 

The new generation of mentees

Dr. Miranda was known for encouraging people to become leaders and to continue serving and mentoring Hispanic/Latino students at Vanguard University and beyond.

Canales said the 17-minute documentary was created as a tool to show students who he was. 

“A lot of students who were coming as freshmen didn’t know his life story,” she said. “So this documentary shares his life story from cradle to grave and his enduring legacy here at the university.”

Two Latina students, Kimberly Camacho and Tracy Chavez, were among the speakers at the event. Both said they felt glad to be part of the celebration and share their experiences on how the center has helped them.

Camacho, 22, said she transferred from Biola University two years ago and while she was a bit anxious about meeting new friends, she felt extremely comfortable when she was connected to the Cornerstone program at the center. 

There she learned not only how to be a leader, but how to connect with her roots and embrace her heritage. She comes from a Mexican background.  

“Our Hispanic heritage is what gives us good values for leadership such as resilience and perseverance,” she said. 

She said some of these teachings would include their parents as an example. Professors would remind students how their parents overcame obstacles through perseverance and how they, as young students, can do much more. 

Chavez said she has been part of the center for the past three years and this has helped her in her professional development through skills learning, networking and mentoring. 

“The leadership program helps students develop basic level professional skills, but also offers a mentorship program,” she said. 

Camacho will graduate this May with a degree in Theology; Chavez will graduate in Fall of 2026 with a Psychology degree. Both agreed that the welcoming ambiance on campus makes them feel at home. 

Dr. Miranda died on July 12, 2019. He was the founder of Alianza de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacionales (AMEN), one of the first national leadership organizations for Latinx Protestants in the nation.

During the luncheon, Vanguard University also announced the release of a newly translated English edition of Dr. Miranda’s book, “Liderazgo y Amistad” (Leadership and Friendship). The book includes his leadership lessons for students, families and community leaders.