Esther Jadhav
Assistant Vice President for Intercultural Affairs
Department: President’s Office
Office: Hager
Phone Extension: 2314
Rev. Dr. Esther D. Jadhav- Assistant Vice President for Intercultural Affairs at Asbury University, has served Christian Higher Education and the Church as an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church for 15 years in various capacities at regional, national and international levels.
As a practitioner and researcher, she has focused on developing initiatives and programs that elevate the critical role of theology in activating cultural responsibility as an institutional distinctive. Bringing her academic background in Anthropology, Sociology and Theology, and experiences in diverse settings to this effort, Esther combines her passion for Christian higher education and the Church to help build bridges across cultures and communities. In her current role, Esther provides institutional leadership, and guidance across the university in all areas of cultural responsiveness with primary responsibility for institutional outcomes rooted in Asbury’s commitment to be a Christian Community that practices hospitality, mutuality, redemptive social action, and grace-filled reconciliation.
Most recently she was invited to serve as a member of the national research collaboration team, on Christians and racial justice and racial dynamics in U.S. Christian organizations conducted by Professor Glenn Bracey of Villanova, Barna Group, ReNew Partnerships, and Michael Emerson.
Education
- Ph.D. Intercultural Studies, Emphasis: Contextual Theology, Asbury Theological Seminary – 2021.
- Dissertation: The Impact of Theology on the Development of Cultural Intelligence among College Students at an Evangelical Liberal Arts University
- Th.M., Emphasis: World Missions and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary – 2013.
- Scholarly Paper: A Wesleyan Theology of Cultural Competence
- Faculty Supervisors: Dr. Howard A. Snyder & Dr. Steven J. Ybarrola
- M.Div., Asbury Theological Seminary – 2003.
- B.A., St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai University, Mumbai, India – 1998.
- Majors: Anthropology and Sociology
Publications
- Jadhav, Esther D. (2020). The Place of Theology in Diversity Efforts in Christian Higher Education: A Wesleyan Perspective. The Asbury Journal.
- Jadhav, Esther D. (2014). A Wesleyan Theology of Cultural Competence. The Academic Open Press, Asbury Theological Seminary.
Presentations
- November 2021, Faith, Culture and Cultural Responsibility, Seminar presented at the AIKCU Diversity Summit.
- October 2021, Kingdom Conference Panelist, Honoring the Life and Legacy of Renee Padilla, Asbury Theological Seminary.
- September 2021, Cultural Intelligence Podcast, Global Strategy, Church of God Ministries.
- January 2021, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as Spiritual Leader, 2021 MLK Unity Breakfast, sponsored by Alpha Beta Lambda Chapter Education Foundation, Inc. Lexington, Kentucky.
- October 2019, The Role of Theology in Cultivating Cultural Responsibility, Seminar presented at the CCCU Diversity Conference, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon.
- October 2019, The Place of Theology in Diversity Efforts in Christian Higher Education: A Wesleyan Perspective. Paper presented at the Advanced Research Programs Interdisciplinary Colloquium and served as a Student Panelist, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY.
- June 2019, How our Culture plays a part in Pursuing God’s Heart, Session Speaker, Youth Becoming Leaders. Asbury University, Wilmore, KY.
- June 2014, A Wesleyan Theology of Cultural Competence. Paper presented at APM, Association of Professors of Missiology, National Conference at Northwestern University, Minneapolis, MN.
- June 2014, Cultural Competence in the Church Today: Developing awareness, knowledge and skills. Presentation made at Lexington District Conference, Kentucky Annual Conference, UMC, Lexington, KY.