Vanguard University Premieres Documentary Honoring Jesse Miranda

COSTA MESA, California — Vanguard University (VU) recently premiered a biographical documentary, Always a Seat at the Table: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Jesse Miranda, highlighting the Christian leader’s enduring legacy and commitment to empowering first-generation and Latino students at its Costa Mesa campus. The documentary can be viewed on YouTube.

Commissioned by VU’s Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, the 17-minute film chronicles Miranda’s role as a nationally recognized Latino evangelical leader and Assemblies of God executive presbyter whose vision helped unite Hispanic communities and expand leadership pathways for young people across Southern California. The documentary features interviews with Miranda’s family, colleagues, and mentees — many of whom continue to serve and mentor Hispanic/Latino students at Vanguard and beyond.

“Dr. Miranda believed in empowering the next generation, knowing that leadership is about building strong relationships, bringing others along, and faithfully passing the baton,” said Celina Canales, director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership. “This documentary is both a tribute and a call to action to continue forming leaders who unite and strengthen their communities and serve with purpose. We want today’s students to see themselves in his story and recognize what is possible.”

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

The Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership equips the Vanguard community to lead with cultural clarity within the center’s Hispanic context through mentorship, leadership development, and strategic partnerships that serve the campus, church, and community.

For more information on the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, click here.