CV

Josh Perez

Academic Email: joshua.perez@du.edu and jsperez@iliff.edu

Personal/Work Email: justjoshperez@gmail.com

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EDUCATION

2024-present   Ph.D. in Religion, The University of Denver (DU) and Iliff School of Theology (Iliff)

2014                B.A. in Psychology, The University of New Mexico

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles

Forthcoming   “In Another Life: Cinema, Portals, and Orientation” Journal of Auto-Academia

Book Reviews

Forthcoming   Richard Walsh and Jeffrey L. Staley. Jesus, the Gospels, and Cinematic Imagination: Introducing Jesus Movies, Christ Films, and the Messiah in Motion, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture

PAPER PRESENTATIONS

INVITATIONS

ACADEMIC AWARDS

2024                Outstanding Achievement in Master of Theological Studies Award

2024                Graduation with Distinction awarded by the Iliff School of Theology

GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS

2024-Present  JDP Diamond Scholarship, 100% Tuition

2024                Elizabeth Iliff Warren Fellowship, $10,000

2024-26          DU Graduate Studies Doctoral Fellowship, $9,000

2022-24          William Iliff Memorial Scholarship

2022                Social Justice Scholarship

2022                Western Regional Scholarship

2022                Iliff Scholarship

ACADEMIC SERVICE

2024-2025      Graduate Student Association, 1st Year Representative

2024-2025      Graduate Student Association, Co-Fundraising Chair

2023-24           Co-Chair of the Student Senate

2023-24           Board of Trustees, Student Representative

2022-23           Student Senate, Master of Theological Studies Representative

MINISTRY SERVICE

2019-2020       Board Member, Bespoke Church, Albuquerque, NM

2016-2019       Overseer, Outlet Sunday Service, Believers Center of Albuquerque

2016-2019       Full Time field ministry, Young Life, Albuquerque, NM

2011-2013       Latino Student Staff, National Initiative, Young Life, Albuquerque, NM

2007-2011       Volunteer Leader, Young Life, Albuquerque, NM

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Academic and Research

• Interdisciplinary Research
• Critical and Cultural Theory
• Theories of Religion
• Artificial Intelligence and What it Means to be Human
• Curriculum Development and Course Design
• Scholarly Writing, Editing, and Public Theology
• Reflexive and Autoethnographic Methodologies
• Film as Religion

Media and Creative Arts

• Filmmaking (Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Producing)
• Digital Storytelling and Narrative Design
• Podcast Production, Audio Engineering, and Sound Design
• Brand Identity and Creative Direction
• Visual Literacy and Cinematic Theory

Leadership and Communication

• Public Speaking and Facilitation
• Leadership Development
• Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics
• Enneagram Coaching and Integrative Personality Work
• Conflict Navigation and Bridge-Building across Ideological Divides

Social Impact and Ministry

• Community Development
• Anti-Racist and Social Justice Praxis
• Interfaith Dialogue and Spiritual Formation
• Storytelling for Healing, Belonging, and Identity

Technical Tools and Platforms

• Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition, and Creative Suite
• Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro
• Zoom, Descript, and other media tools
• Substack, Canva, and social media content strategy

Emerging Interests

• Media Ethics and Religion
• Queer Theory
• Theology and Futurism / Speculative Imagination
• Public Facing Creative Scholarly Writing

SELECTED NOTABLE WORKS