HSU Professor Joe Rangel Jr. Honored for Work in Hispanic Education in Texas

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Dr. Joe Rangel, Jr.

ABILENE, TX (07/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Dr. Joe Rangel Jr., director of Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology undergraduate programs in Corpus Christi, Texas, has been recognized for his work in Hispanic education. The 2012 Excellence in Leadership Award, given annually at the Texas Baptist Hispanic Education Convention, through the Hispanic Education Initiative, is given to the person who best demonstrates leadership or advocacy for Texas Baptist Hispanics in education.

Speaking in Spanish and English, Dr. Gus Reyes, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Hispanic Education Initiative, presented the award to Rangel, praising him for the example he has set, "Brother Joe is one of our newest PhD's. We have a few currently working on their doctorate degrees and we can't wait to recognize them. Wouldn't it be a wonderful dream to have more PhDs – your kids are going to be the ones to do that. Dr. Rangel, thank you for what you do and what you will do for our students."

Rangel is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He completed his graduate degree at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned the Master of Divinity degree in biblical languages. He earned a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University from the Cook School of Intercultural Studies in La Mirada, California.

Rangel has taught as an adjunct professor at Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas, and has been a pastor for churches in Texas and California.

Rangel serves as assistant professor of missions at HSU Corpus Christi, which works in cooperation with the South Texas School of Christian Studies (STSCS). STSCS operates as a host institution for religious education in South Texas through which the Logsdon School of Theology of Hardin-Simmons University offers two baccalaureate degrees and the Logsdon Seminary of HSU offers two masters degrees.

"This award is a great honor for me and my family," says Rangel. "I'd like to thank the Hispanic Baptist Convencion and the Hispanic Education Initiative for acknowledging what God has done in my life and in my profession."

Reyes, who is charged with leading Texas Baptists to help Hispanic teens complete high school and earn degrees in higher education, says Rangel was the perfect person to receive the award because he has finished the race by earning the highest degree in his field.

"Dr. Rangel has set the example of achievement for Hispanic students throughout Texas," says Reyes. "He proves once again to Hispanic students that academic goals can be achieved through God's help. We are very proud of Dr Rangel and thankful for his continued ministry as a professor at HSU in the School of Christian Studies at Corpus."