Christian Bello Escobar, Ed.D., C.S.A.Ed.
Biography
Dr. Christian Bello Escobar is the Director of El Centro Campus at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, he leads academic, recruitment, retention, and community engagement initiatives that advance access, equity, and student success across Chicago’s diverse communities. NEIU - El Centro serves as a dynamic hub for higher education, social mobility, and community partnerships, and Dr. Bello Escobar is dedicated to strengthening its impact through innovative collaborations and culturally responsive leadership.
Before joining NEIU, Dr. Bello Escobar served as the Director of Academic & Community Engagement in the College of Education at the University of North Georgia (UNG). In that role, he led initiatives that enhanced community partnerships, student recruitment, outreach, and fund development. He also served as an adjunct faculty member in Teacher Education and Psychology at Georgia Highlands College.
Dr. Bello Escobar began his tenure at UNG in early 2014, serving in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs before becoming Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) in 2015. In 2016, he expanded his leadership as the inaugural Director of Migrant Programs and Services, overseeing both the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and CAMP—two federally funded programs through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education. He rewrote and renewed both grants (CAMP in 2020 and HEP in 2021), securing a combined total of over $7 million to continue serving migrant, seasonal, and temporary farmworkers across north Georgia.
Prior to his work at UNG, Dr. Bello Escobar held roles at Georgia State University (2009–2011) in Undergraduate Admissions, the University of West Georgia (2011–2013), and Indiana University–Bloomington (2013–2014) in Housing and Residence Life. Born in Acapulco, Mexico, and raised in the Atlanta metro area, Dr. Bello Escobar brings a significant number of years of higher education leadership advancing student success, community engagement, and equity initiatives across diverse educational settings. His career reflects a deep commitment to building programs and partnerships that empower first-generation, minoritized and all students to thrive.
Expertise
Ethnic Identity Development; Multicultural Student Affairs; Fraternity and Sorority Life; Student Development & Involvement; Housing & Residence Life; Migrant Education; Latinx and diverse student issues in higher education; student recruitment, retention, & success programs.
Research Interests
- Ethnic identity development of Greek-letter organization members
- Human resources, higher education leadership, organizational structures, and
management. - Assessment, research, grant writing, and management
- Academic & student engagement; student recruitment, retention & success initiatives.
- Leadership development, educator development, and student development theory &
practice. - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and engagement; diversity issues in education
Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Leadership: cognate in Higher
Education, Valdosta State University, 2021.
Graduate Certificate, Online Teaching, Valdosta State
University, 2023.
Graduate Certificate, Diversity, University of North Georgia,
2016.
Master of Education (M.Ed.), Professional Counseling:
cognate in College Student Affairs, University of West
Georgia, 2013.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology, Georgia State
University, 2011.
License & Certification
Certified Student Affairs Educator (C.S.A.Ed.), Higher Education Consortium for
Student Affairs Certification, 2023.
Certificate #: CSAEd-204 Expiration Date: October,
2028
Selected Publications
Suriel, R., Martinez, J., Bello Escobar, C. A., & Workman, J. (2024). From lived experiences to social activism: Latino fraternity brothers critical service to the Latinx community. Georgia
Journal of College Student Affairs, 40(1). ISSN: 2330-7269.c Bello Escobar, C. A., Workman, J., Martinez, J., & Suriel, R. S. (2023).
The Persistence and Ethnic Identity of Latino Fraternity Members at Predominantly White Institutions in Georgia, Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and
Practice: 17(3). https://doi.org/10.25774/80xq-n917
Additional Information
Courses Taught
- Latinos in the U.S., PERS 2001 – Georgia State University, Spring 2011
- Intro to Leadership & Student Success Seminar, UWG 1101 – University of West Georgia, Fall 2012
- Leadership Development, HESA U207 – Indiana University, Fall 2013
- African American Male Initiative College Success Class, UNIV 1101 – University of North Georgia, Summer 2014
- Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, Professional and Continuing Education – University of North Georgia, Summer 2015 - Spring 2016
- Communicative Spanish I, Professional and Continuing Education – University of North Georgia, Fall 2015
- J.W. Fannin Institute for Leadership Development: Community Leadership Courses, 2015 – present.
- Intro to Leadership & Student Success Seminar, UNIV 1000 – University of North Georgia, Fall 2016 – Fall 2020
- Intro to Issues in Diversity, EDUC 7789 – University of North Georgia, Fall 2022.
- Exploring Sociocultural Perspectives, EDUC 2120 – Georgia Highlands College, Fall 2021 – Fall 2025.
- Intro to Psychology, PSYC 1101 – Georgia Highlands College, Spring 2023 – present.
- First Year Experience course, UNG 1101 – University of North Georgia, Fall 2025
Personal Life
When he’s not teaching or working in higher education administration, Dr. Bello enjoys reading, traveling, watching TV/movies, cooking, running, and exploring the Chicago land. He also values spending quality time with his wife, their sons and their four beloved pets, a chocolate lab and a cat. Dr. CBE is actively involved in several professional organizations, including but not limited to: Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and ACPA – College Student Educators International and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).