Dr. Benjamin Espinoza (Ph.D., Michigan State University) serves as Vice President of Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College. His calling in life is to develop the next generation of leaders for the church and society, and his professional life has always been located between the church and the academy.
Upon graduation from Cedarville University, Ben served as a pastoral assistant at a large church in Detroit, Michigan before entering Asbury Theological Seminary. While at Asbury Seminary, he served in advancement, enrollment, and institutional research.
After graduation, Ben and his wife, Dr. Hannah Espinoza, moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, where Hannah entered graduate school and Ben served as a pastor at a vibrant, missional church. During this period of ministry, Ben served as a youth pastor, community life pastor, and as lead pastor while continuing an extensive writing and research agenda centered on Christian formation and leadership. Under his leadership, the church experienced significant change and growth. Sensing a call for further education, Ben enrolled in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Ph.D. program at Michigan State University. At MSU, Ben studied organizational leadership, adult learning, student success, and theological education. His dissertation explored the experiences of Latinx faculty in evangelical seminaries. In addition to pursuing graduate work, Ben served as a college engagement pastor at Faith Church in Lansing, Michigan.
While he initially sensed a call to return to full-time pastoral ministry after graduate school, Ben accepted the role of Associate Vice President of Online Education at Roberts Wesleyan College in 2020. During his time at Roberts, Ben also took on the roles of Special Co-Advisor to the President for Diversity and Belonging and Executive Director of Seminary Administration. Following a national search, Ben was appointed Vice President of Northeastern Seminary in July 2022.
Ben is active in a number of ministry and educational organizations. He previously served on the board of directors for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators and the Children’s Spirituality Summit. Currently, he serves on the board of Teaching Like Jesus Ministries and on the editorial committee for the Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH). An ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church, Ben also serves as Associate Director for Curriculum Planning (Spanish Ministry Education and Formation) as part of the denomination’s Education and Clergy Development department.
A practical theologian, Ben writes and speaks extensively on Christian formation and discipleship, race and social justice, youth ministry, theological education, organizational leadership, and theologies of culture. He has written over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 40+ encyclopedia articles, and 70+ book reviews for an array of journals and publications. He is the editor of Story, Formation, & Culture: From Theory to Practice in Ministry with Children (Pickwick, 2018) and Theology of the Star Wars Universe (Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2022). Forthcoming projects include Spiritual Formation in a Multicultural World (with Virginia Baker and Sarah Farmer) for Baker Academic, Called to La Lucha: The Experiences of Latinx Scholars in Theological Education for Wipf and Stock, and From Our Own Voices: Latino/a Faculty in Christian Higher Education (with Octavio Esqueda) for Abilene Christian University Press.
He has addressed the Hispanic Education Summit, Association of Youth Ministry Educators, and the Center for Pastor Theologians, and has presented papers for several organizations, including the American Academy of Religion (AAR), the Society for Professors in Christian Education (SPCE), and the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). He recently finished a four-year term as senior associate editor of the Journal of Youth Ministry and continues to serve on numerous journal boards and committees.
Ben is proudly married to Dr. Hannah Espinoza, with whom he has two energetic and adorable young boys.