Dr. Al Gonzalez was honored today at the 21st Latino Issues Conference “A Community at a Crossroads: The Intersections of Immigration and Identity.”
Dr. Gonzalez received the highest honor award from the Latino Issues Conference which is the Dr. Miguel Ornelas Award. This award is given in honor of Dr. Miguel Ornelas, a former Human Relations Commission member and Director of Affirmative Action at Bowling Green State University. Before his death in 1989, Dr. Ornelas served as an advocate for issues of diversity, as head of the Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity and as a member of the BGSU Graduate Student Senate, Third World Graduate Association, and La Union de Estudiantes Latinos (LSU). He was the recipient of the first Hispanic Award from Project Search. Dr. Ornelas touched the lives of all who came in contact with him. The Dr. Miguel Ornelas Award is intended to bring attention to the actions and services of those who reflect Dr. Ornelas’ values.
Dr. Gonzalez received this award for his long history at BGSU. His background at BGSU goes back decades beginning as an undergraduate student and one the initial students involved with the newly founded Union de Estudiantes Latinos (LSU).
Dr. Gonzalez has served as an administrator and faculty member and currently serves as the Department Head for the Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to this role, Dr. Gonzalez served as an Assistant Provost with responsibilities for enrollment management. On campus, he has been engaged with the Latino/a community in different levels from being a part of the Latino Issues Conference, Cinco de Mayo and other efforts like the Dia de los Muertos event. Further, Dr. Gonzalez is active and engaged member of the community as well. A lot of his work has cetered with the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center in Toledo, where he has served on its Board and its Board President. More recently, he was part of the group that helped to establish La Conexion de Wood County where he currently serves as the first Board Chair of the organization.