Juan Gonzalez

Juan C. Gonzalez serves as Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy within the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. With expertise in student affairs leadership and administration, he focuses on improving the college student experience and expanding access to higher education for first-generation students. Gonzalez earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.A. in bilingual-bicultural education from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and B.A. in Latin American studies from Texas Tech University. His academic career includes senior lecturer positions at UT Austin since 2005, Arizona State University, and associate professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Over 25 years, Gonzalez held senior administrative roles as Vice President for Student Affairs at five major universities: UT Austin (2005-2012), UC San Diego as Vice Chancellor (2014-2017), Arizona State University, Georgetown University, and California Polytechnic State University. At UT Austin, he implemented strategic planning for student affairs, emphasizing assessment and integration of learning outcomes; advanced initiatives in enrollment management, financial aid for underrepresented students, leadership ethics, and suicide prevention; and led construction of the Student Activity Center and Almetris Duren Residence Hall. His research explores retention of low-income and minority students, postsecondary equity, bilingual education, student affairs assessment, diversity, and campus climate. Notable publications include “Living the American Dream” (2005) in Among Us: Essays on Identity, Belonging and Intercultural Competence; “Are we there yet?” in AAHE News (2004); and González and Hurtado, Expanding Educational Equity in California’s Schools and Colleges (1987). Awards include the National TRIO Achiever Award (2002) and Kellogg Fellow Education Policy Fellowship (1983). He has consulted for the California Post-Secondary Commission, Tomás Rivera Research Center, and served on advisory boards for the American Council on Education and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, significantly impacting higher education access and student success.