Episode 195

full
Published on:

18th May 2022

Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado

A thread running through Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado’s life is a desire to leave the world better, whether or not his involvement is visible to others. As well as discussing his long career as an educator, nuclear non-proliferation analyst, and community activist, we talk about inclusion, identity, his experience growing up as the son of migrant Mexican farm workers, joining the Navy, and much more.

In June 2022 Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado begins his new role as senior advisor to the chancellor and as the chief inclusion officer at Texas Christian University. He was formerly assistant vice chancellor of student success at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Benjamin-Alvarado is also the former president of the Latino Caucus in Political Science of the American Political Science Association. He additionally served as the director for the University of Nebraska Omaha's Office of Latino and Latin American Studies. Benjamin-Alvarado earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and his doctorate in political science from the University of Georgia.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Lives Radio Show & Podcast with Stuart Chittenden

About the Podcast

Lives Radio Show & Podcast with Stuart Chittenden
Every Sunday at 9am on KIOS 91.5FM, Omaha's NPR affiliate, Season Three of Lives will tackle the big questions: What is a good life? Why are we here? How might we feel more connected? These and other big questions about how we live will be explored each week. Through intimate conversations, fascinating guests will share their spiritual, philosophical, artistic, and cultural approaches to exploring the wonders of our human experience. Join me as we delve into the practical and profound possibilities of living well.

As well as listening to this Season Three of Lives being broadcast on KIOS, listen back to Seasons One and Two, featuring fresh voices and diverse perspectives on culture, community, business, and more. From the Midwest and beyond, inspiring guests share compelling stories spanning the fields of politics, business, media, community activism, arts and humanities, philanthropy, and more.

On air since January 2017, Lives Radio Show & Podcast initially broadcast on the community radio station Mind & Soul 101.3FM in north Omaha, housed at the Malcolm X Center, and more recently broadcast with 1st Sky Omaha.

About your host

Profile picture for stuart chittenden

stuart chittenden

I believe that conversation enables us to live better and work well by building strong relationships as individuals, teams, and communities.

Driven by that belief, I founded Squishtalks to design and deliver conversation experiences and programs for small to Fortune 500 corporate clients and for a variety of non-profit organizations. I regularly speak and facilitate workshops on the principles of conversation and how their practice enlivens our potential. My belief in the profound power of conversation to awaken our humanity has led to me being selected to speak at three different TEDx events.

I am a British expatriate calling Omaha, Nebraska home since 2004. Before moving to America, I was a London-based lawyer working on major international transactions. In Omaha, as well as founding Squishtalks, I co-founded Gilbert+Chittenden with creativity expert Dan Gilbert, which is a creativity consultancy that helps individuals and organizations realize their best futures and apply design thinking processes to achieve innovative breakthroughs.

Among my community endeavors was the project: a couple of 830 mile long conversations. Inspired by John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, in an RV I adventured for four weeks along side roads and among small towns to talk with Nebraskans. Traveling through conversations, discovering the lives, cultures and stories of people I met, the project was a long hello to Nebraska.