Feature Story

Dr. Jose Gonzalez poses for a photograph Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Gonzalez was selected to teach in Barcelona, Spain, under the Fulbright Scholar Program. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class NyxoLyno Cangemi

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Jose Gonzalez, a native of New London, Conn., and a professor of English in the humanities department at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy here, has been awarded a 2011 Fulbright Scholarship.

As part of the Fulbright Senior Lecture Program, Gonzalez is scheduled to teach at the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona in the spring of 2012.

Gonzalez graduated from New London High School in 1985, earned his bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in 1989, his master’s degree from Brown University in 1991, and his doctorate in English from the University of Rhode Island in 1998. He taught full-time at Three Rivers Community College from 1993-1999 and as a part-time professor at the University of Rhode Island and the University of Connecticut.

To spotlight Gonzalez’s accomplishment as a Fulbright Scholar, he has answered a few questions about his career and what it means to him to win this prestigious award.

1. What drew you to the Coast Guard Academy?

The students - the cadets. Having grown up in New London, I've been able to see firsthand the kind of committed people they are. I lived in the housing projects down the street and would see them jogging by, having conversations with kids. At times, they would even join us for a game of football. And I'd also see some of them serve as Big Brothers or Big Sisters to many of my friends. In other words, I'd witnessed their presence in the community.

2. What do you like most about teaching at the academy?

Working closely with students who are destined to become tomorrow's leaders. Part of my job is to teach them how to communicate effectively, and it's also to help them understand what it means to motivate, and how in turn, that means getting to know as much as possible about the groups with which they'll be working.

3. Why did you apply for a Fulbright?

It is one of the crowning jewels in the world of academia. It offers a unique opportunity for faculty to teach others about our great nation, and in turn, the opportunity to learn about rich cultures outside the U.S.

4. What did/do you do that helped you earn this award?

Sweat and sweat. One of my lifelong missions has been to spread the word about the world of U.S. Latino literature. Sadly, not enough students at all academic levels have read the work of Latino authors. Too many confuse Latino literature written in English with Latin American literature written in Spanish. The two are very different--just as African-American literature and African literature are different. I've worked on endless number of projects along the way that promote the differences and help spread the word about the various Latino literary gems written in our backyard.

5. The Fulbright Scholar Program gives participants the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. What do you hope to study, teach, research, exchange and or contribute within the program?

At a time when the perception of the United States abroad is in the midst of change, this program offers me the opportunity and to a certain extent gives me the responsibility to be an ambassador of sorts. As a proud immigrant who has been able to achieve so many dreams in the U.S., I am in a unique position to speak patriotically and realistically about the challenges that immigrants from Latinos in the U.S. have had to face. Much of the literature I'll be teaching reinforces that.

6. What do you hope to gain personally and professionally with your award?

Professionally, I hope to inspire others, whether that be students or faculty, to pick up books and works by Latino authors and pursue further studies that would get them to learn about the people of the U.S. I do hope to be able to learn more about Spain. In Latino studies, Spain is often not recognized or studied as closely as it should be, and this will allow me to learn more about that country's history and people. Personally, I hope to brush up on my Spanish and also learn some Catalan. The study of language is such a great intellectual challenge for any adult, and I think it will be an interesting way for me to put my brain on a treadmill.

7. How will you use this award to positively influence the students you teach?

No matter their major, all graduates will eventually be in influential leadership positions. In order to be well-informed, they will need to have a global perspective. As members of our military, they don't necessarily have to agree with all international perspectives, but they have to be aware of them. The experience in Barcelona, a region known for its multicultural makeup, will certainly provide me with exposure to scholarly resources and the experiences there will also provide me with material that I can incorporate directly into the classroom.

8. Do you have a certain philosophy that you follow?

Don't ever forget where you're from. It sounds like a cliché, but I'll always be proud of where I was born, El Salvador, and where I grew up, in New London. I'm a Whaler at heart, and looking back keeps me looking forward, above the horizon.

9. Who is your greatest inspiration and why?

My parents, who are both deceased and sacrificed so much of themselves when they immigrated from El Salvador to the U.S.

10. If you were not a teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?
I love teaching, so if I weren't teaching, I think I'd find a way to shape my job into one that involves teaching.

Extra: Do you have any hobbies?
Yes, I play basketball, and I coach youth soccer.