Juan Esteban Ramírez Escobar was born in Medellín, Colombia to Yolima Escobar-Henao and Ivan Dario Ramirez-Gomez. JuanEs and his family moved to the United States and settled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Western North Carolina in the year 2000. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Spanish from Lenoir-Rhyne College and completed a Master of Science from Mountain State University. In addition, Juan Esteban completed an Education Specialist, and Doctor of Education degrees in Higher Education at Appalachian State University.

As a leader in his community, Juan Esteban has served in numerous boards at the local, state, and national levels in social justice cause-related equity, diversity, and inclusivity. His mission is to continue the conversations around the cultivation of Cultural Wealth, advocate for all lived experiences, and craft spaces of confianza to keep knowledge on the move. In addition to his passion for education, JuanEs cherishes time with his family, traveling, and learning.

Thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent those of any organization to which I am associated.