The Aspen Institute

Esmeralda Sanchez (Houston, Texas) is a scholar, writer, community program developer, education equality advocate and faith-based community leader. As deputy director of the Faith and Education Coalition for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), America’s largest Hispanic evangelical organization, Esmeralda leads national, state and local initiatives promoting civic engagement among faith communities in issues of educational equality. Through her and the Coalition’s efforts, more than 2,000 churches joined to celebrate Education Sunday to encourage educational achievement among congregants and to support higher and equal standards of education comparable across states. An academic scholar on the intersection of religion and education, Esmeralda’s forthcoming publication in the peer-reviewed journal Sociology of Religion, entitled “Latino Congregations and Youth Educational Expectations,” focuses on the role Latino churches and faith leaders play in shaping educational expectations of Hispanic youth. She’s written for Christianity Today and serves as a co-producer of TBN Salsa’s “Raising the Standards” education show. She holds a master’s from the University of Texas at Dallas and a bachelor’s from Southern Methodist University. A daughter of Mexican and Central American immigrants, Esmeralda will start her Ph.D. studies in sociology at Rice University this fall to focus on urban, community and religion matters impacting educational achievement. Participated in Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program Unlocking Latino Millennial Civic Potential.