Alfredo Gonzales, associate provost at Hope College, has been appointed associate provost and dean for international and multicultural education.
Gonzales previously held administrative oversight of the college's programs in international and multicultural education, but will now focus on them even more intentionally as part of the college's ongoing effort to enhance campus diversity and expand global education.
"We selected Alfredo Gonzales for this assignment because of his extensive experience with promoting diversity and global education, his positive relationships internal and external to the campus, and his commitment to the college's goal of educating students for world citizenship," said Dr. James Boelkins, provost at Hope. "The change in title demonstrates the college's commitment to improving international and multicultural education at Hope."
The college's long-running programs in international education and multicultural education moved into purpose-built office space in the new Martha Miller Center for Global Communication in the fall of 2005. The building also houses the departments of communication and modern and classical languages as well as the college's new leadership program, a mix intended to foster connections between them and, ultimately, to enhance each.
Associate director of international education at Hope is Amy Otis, a member of the college's staff since 1996. Vanessa Greene has served as director of multicultural education since 2003.
Gonzales is also responsible for administration of the Phelps Scholars Program, a residential program through which first-year students explore issues related to diversity under the leadership of Dr. Chuck Green; the college's participation in the Preparing Future Fellows Program between Howard University and Hope; the Women's Studies Program, directed by Dr. Jane Dickie; the Ethnic Studies Program, of which Dr. Jesus Montano is acting director; and the Critical Issues Symposium, of which Derek Emerson is co-chair.
Gonzales has been involved in multicultural education at Hope for more than 20 years. He joined the staff in 1979 as director of the college's Upward Bound program, a position that continued with his appointment as director of minority student affairs in 1984. In 1986 he was named assistant dean of multicultural life, working in the Office of Student Development to strengthen the multicultural life at the college, assisting the admissions office in recruiting minority students, and developing contacts with area high schools and other organizations.
He was named assistant provost in 1990, with continuing emphasis on multicultural matters, particularly in conjunction with the academic program. He acquired administrative responsibility for international education as well when he was named associate provost in 2001.
He has been active in enhancing international and multicultural understanding locally and regionally as well. He is a long-time member and is currently chair of the City of Holland's International Relations Commission. He is a founding member of the Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival, and is past chair of the Michigan Commission for Spanish Speaking Affairs and LAUP Inc. Among other community activities, he is also past chair of the Holland Community Hospital Board of Directors and has also served on the boards of Western Theological Seminary, First of America Bank Corporation and the Holland Area Arts Council.
Gonzales has been honored multiple times for his work in international and multicultural education. In July, the city of Santiago de Queretaro presented him with its "Germán Patiño Díaz" Medal for his involvement in the creation and flourishing of the sister-city relationship between Holland and Queretaro as well as the on-going exchange relationship between the Autonomous University of Queretaro and Hope, both of which have recently marked 10 years. In 1998, he received the "Michigan Outstanding Hispanic of the Year" "Honorable Mention" award from the Michigan Educational Opportunity Fund Inc. In 1997, through one of only 24 fellowships awarded worldwide by the Ford Foundation, he participated in the "International Seminar on Diversity Issues in Higher Education" in New Delhi, India. In April 2004 he received the fifth annual "Vanderbush-Weller Development Fund" award, given for strong, positive impact on students.