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 Biography and Speaker
Information: Jose B. Gonzalez was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, and immigrated
to New London, Connecticut at the age of eight.
He
has been the recipient of such honors as Connecticut's Higher Education
Multicultural Faculty of the Year Award and has published poetry in such
journals as Callaloo,
The Teacher's
Voice, Palabra, Calabash and Colere, and anthologies including
Coloring Book, Nantucket: A Collection, and
Latino Boom: An Anthology of U.S. Latino Literature, which he also
co-edited. His work
was most recently included in a special edition of OCHO featuring
Latino poets.
He is the recipient of the 2006 Poet of the Year Award
presented by the New England Association of Teachers of English. In addition,
he has contributed critical and nonfiction essays to such journals as
New England Quarterly and to National Public Radio.
Jose infuses his presentations with a mix of
poetry, humor, and social commentary. He holds a Master’s in
Teaching in English from Brown University and a Ph.D. in English from the
University of Rhode Island. He has presented at various
conferences, schools and colleges such as Yale University, Wright State
University, University of Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut State University,
Connecticut College, Boston College, and
he has been keynote speaker for a number of Hispanic Heritage Month events.
He is currently a Professor of English at the United States Coast Guard Academy
in New London, Connecticut.
For information on scheduling
him for a speaking engagement, e-mail:
jgonzalez@latinostories.com.
He is available for the following keynote lectures,
presentations, and workshops (as well as for poetry readings):
- From No-English to
Professor of English: What Educators Should Know About a Former ESOL
Student's Journey
- “Latino, Hispanic, Latin
American: And What Difference Does It Make Anyway?” (Ideal for Hispanic
Heritage Month and other culture-themed functions)
- “Everything You Wanted to
Know About Latino Literature (in 90 Minutes or Less)”
- "And I Thought Aliens
Didn't Eat Rice and Beans: The Evolution of the Word 'Alien'"
- Poetry Readings and Customized Presentations on
Latino Literature and Culture
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2007-08 Calendar of Readings or Presentations:
- October 2007: Wright State University: October 2007
- October 2007: Connecticut College
- December 2007: Alva Gallery, New London, CT
- February
2008: AWP ACENTOS: A Gathering and Celebration of Latino and Latina Poets.
February, 2008. Readers included Scheduled readers include
Martin Espada, Rafael Campo, Aracelis Girmay, Willie Perdomo. Hosted by Rich
Villar.
- February 10, 2008: Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading Keynote
Speaker. Mystic Arts Center
- February 26, 2008: Acentos Bronx Poetry Showcase. The
Bruckner Bar and Grill
One Bruckner Blvd. (corner of Third Ave. and Bruckner Blvd.) 6 Train
to 138th Street Station
- April 25, 26 & 27, 2008: Poetry reader and panelist.
Newburyport Literary
Festival
- April 30: Cumberland County College, New Jersey
Recent Letters:
Hi Jose,
Thank you so much for being the speaker at our Langston Hughes event. I was
knocked off my feet by your speech and poetry. I hope you got a chance to see
the Norwich Bulletin article about the event-it wrote about the laughter and the
wonder of your "brown" autobiographical poem. I loved your part in the event.
You have a teacher's ear for keeping your listeners interested. We were
listening to you. And thanks for your actor's voice which you projected. I'll
be listening for your comments on NPR.
Jackie Hemond
Norwich Otis Library
Dear Jose:
I want to thank you for allowing me to use the audio recording of your poem
“The Autobrownography of a New England Latino” as the centerpiece for the
keynote address I delivered to the annual NM/WTSAP (New Mexico/West Texas
Student Assistance Programs) TRiO conference in Albuquerque this past April.
The two hundred Latino college students in the audience enthusiastically
enjoyed your remarkable work; I could see the personal glimmers of
recognition in their eyes and the repeated affirmations and nods as they
shared your descriptions of your educational journey. Without question,
your evocative words were inspirational and I was personally very happy to
have been able to share your creation with them. Thanks for your very
meaningful contribution to our event and your words’ great promise and
generosity of spirit.
John Whitman
TRiO/SSS & Tutoring Programs Director
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe, NM
Dear Jose:
Jose, your obvious public speaking talents, coupled with your breadth
of knowledge make you a dynamic speaker. You weave humor and pathos into
your presentations captivating your audiences! Your presentations aren't
simply lectures - they are events!
Julie Johnson
Associate Director
College of Fine Arts Advising
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Almost each poet in the
collection [of OCHO] is able to locate the organic interchange between past
and present, maintaining reverence toward self and seemingly, toward much of
the Latino culture. Perhaps Jose B. Gonzalez best captures this duality in
his poem “Fleeing For Work” when exclaiming his desire to “rinse [himself]
with drops of mud, & curse the distance between dirt, clean water & our
blood.” These chilling lines reverberate throughout the entire issue,
enhanced by the truths of Gonzalez’s talented contemporaries.
The Montserrat Review
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