Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA

It feels natural that Adjunct Professor of Marketing Jorge Martín Diez would find himself teaching for Empire State University’s Spanish Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program given his lifelong core values of sharing and community. The program—and Empire State University at large—are built upon a similar foundation: that knowledge is empowerment, and thrives the most when accessible to all. “The act of sharing is fundamental to human life. Knowledge cannot flourish if you don’t share it,” says Diez.

Born in Mexico City, Diez holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and two master’s degrees, one in spatial economics and the other in education. His doctorate is in education with a focus on neuroscience. “My specialization is a bit eclectic. I’ve mainly devoted myself to market research,” comments Diez. Though neuroscience may seem like an outlier among his academic specializations, it closed a circle that his initial interest in biology had opened many years before.

Following the presentation of his thesis, his then-vice rector unexpectedly invited Diez to teach at the university, claiming he believed that Diez was suited to the profession. “He said to me, ‘Welcome, colleague.’ And he offered me a class,” tells Diez. At the time, he hesitantly accepted. “I realized that he was right—I love teaching. He dedicates much thought to the act of teaching: “I don’t just transmit information, I shape the academic formation of students in this field,” he explains.

Eventually, Diez pivoted into the private sector to gain business experience that would give depth to his teaching. He delved into companies, universities, and government work, but ultimately decided to found a market research group, which is now managed by his daughter. “You can transmit that experience in addition to technical knowledge,” he comments about the impact of this work on his role in the classroom.

“English is already the universal language,” he says. “Globalization has led us to choose one.” Given this industry standard, particularly in the business world, Diez believes adding English to one’s repertoire is an asset. Hence, bilingual learning opportunities such as the Spanish BBA, which allows students to take course materials by means of their native language but exists in the larger context of a U.S. university, provide a competitive edge.

At the core of Diez’s teaching philosophy is sharing. “Sharing is fundamental in human life,” he says, “we survived as a species because we shared.” He sees the Spanish BBA as a pivotal opportunity for Spanish speakers because of the transformative power of education. “If students receive this degree training, it will provide them with more tools … this bachelor’s degree is the beginning of an ongoing process. It opens doors for you,” says Diez.

In his life, he has circled back to his passions despite years-long departures in other directions. He sees these shifts in focus as opportunities for growth. “It’s never too late,” Diez says, “life can bring you back to what you’re passionate about.”