Dr. Paul Minifee To All Instructors

Howdy, Thrive family!

I’m Dr. Paul A. Minifee, a new member of the Thrive community, and I’m excited to contribute my gifts to nurturing, challenging, and encouraging your students. A native of Galveston Island, TX, I received my BA in English and Psychology and PhD in Rhetoric and Writing from the University of Texas at Austin.

During the latter years of my doctorate, I worked with seminarians on their sermons and taught first-year writing courses at The University of Notre Dame. In 2006, I began teaching at San Diego State University where my classes focused on the African American experience in social, religious, and political contexts and examined the intersections between public and private identities in sacred and secular contexts. I’m a three-time recipient of Pi Beta Phi's "Professor of the Year" award, the 2014 recipient of SDSU's Teaching Excellence Award, and a 2019 finalist for the Senate’s Teaching Excellence Award. In 2020, I pivoted to work in the corporate world where I served as VP of Learning and Development at ion Learning. Targeting corporate execs, my e-learning courses and trainings covered emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, advanced leadership training, mentoring, and leading through complex change.

Currently, I teach a variety of courses in two different departments at Point Loma Nazarene University—my favorite being a senior capstone course called “Living Your Calling.”

In my Thrive classes, your students will develop emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually in a safe/brave space based upon deep introspection, authenticity, accountability, and fun.

On a personal note, I have been an active member of All Peoples Church in La Mesa since 2015, and I enjoy spending my leisure time traveling, cooking, and competing in USTA tennis leagues. I am truly blessed to live my calling as a teacher and mentor, and I look forward to working with you and your students at Thrive!

Current Classes
LIVING YOUR CALLING HOW TO LIVE A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - GRADE 8-12 - W1 - MINIFEE - F25 – (open)
THINK WELL WRITE WELL THE ART OF CRITICAL THINKING AND PERSUASIVE WRITING - GRADE 8-12 - W2 - MINIFEE - F25 – (open)
LIVING YOUR CALLING HOW TO LIVE A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - GRADE 8-12 - W1 - MINIFEE - S26 – (open)
THINK WELL WRITE WELL THE ART OF CRITICAL THINKING AND PERSUASIVE WRITING - GRADE 8-12 - W2 - MINIFEE - S26 – (open)