Jacob Leal

Credentials: BA, Vanguard University of Southern California / MTS, Duke Divinity School / PhD, Boston University (present)

Denomination: Baptist

Specific Field: Theology and Philosophy

Biography: 

Jacob Leal is a Xicano from Texas whose research is influenced by his abuela’s stories of ancestral visitations. His work explores the continuing presence of the dead, revealing how Xicane ancestral veneration is rooted in a Mesoamerican worldview that recognizes the dead as remaining alongside their descendants. Through surviving traditions, ancestors remind Xicanes of their essential yet fragmented memories, including Indigenous struggles against colonialism. He realizes the importance of inclusive academic spaces that create opportunities for Latines, like his grandmother, to tell their stories. As an organizer, Leal is action-oriented. He hopes that his academic work, as a reflection on the Indigenous Mesoamerican struggle against oppression, does not remain on paper but transforms into historical action toward Xicane and Indigenous liberation.