La Universidad de la Vida: a pedagogy built to last

Abstract

This article weaves the life of a Mexican laborer, who with his wife brought his family to the United States and mentored two university professors, as they became activists in their craft. The professors honor their father through a reflective process where they share and make sense of a series of stories that describe their Papi’s experience in La Universidad de la Vida. The narratives speak to ontology of research, the utility of stories, particularly as stories can shape identity, capture critical life moments, and can help us make meaning of lived experiences, a methodology not commonly explored in education research.

Keywords:

• Educación
• ontology
• storytelling
• autoethnography
• epistemology
• place
• activist academic
• Llano Grande Center