He specializes in the Book of Revelation and contextual biblical interpretation. Using Latino/a Borderlands, postcolonial, and critical race theories, Dr. Mata explores the intersection of colonialism, race/ethnicity, and migration in early Christian texts. He received his M.Div. and Th.D. from Harvard Divinity School, where he wrote his dissertation under Elisabeth Schüssler-Fiorenza. He is a recipient of Harvard’s Derek Bok Center Award for teaching excellence and the prestigious William’s Fellowship. He has also received fellowships from the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) and the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE).