April 12, 2023
Gonzales presented with national magazine's 2023 Diverse Champions Award
A College of Education adjunct faculty member — who also serves on the advisory board of the John E. Rouche Center for Community College Leadership program — is the recipient of the Diverse Champions Award from the magazine Diverse Issues In Higher Education.
Steven R. Gonzales, chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District — one of the largest community college systems in the country — was presented with the champion's award at the American Association of Community Colleges annual meeting April 2 in Denver, Colorado. The article featuring Gonzales is available on the publication's website.
Gonzales followed John E. Rouche to the College of Education in 2019 when the program transitioned to K-State. As an adjunct faculty member, Gonzales also serves on doctoral committees in the community college leadership program and is the author of scholarly publications.
"Dr. Gonzales has contributed to our program in numerous aspects and is so deserving of this recognition," said Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education. "He brings his experience as a graduate of the program, along with the impactful combination of the foresight and wisdom needed to succeed in today's complicated system of higher education."
The Maricopa County Community College District comprises 10 colleges that serve nearly 100,000 students with 8,000 faculty and staff members.
"I am truly honored to receive this award," Gonzales said. "It is a reflection of the faculty and staff in Maricopa who work tirelessly to ensure equitable access and success of our more than 150,000 students."
Before serving two years as the interim chancellor, Gonzales served as the eighth president of GateWay Community College, a Maricopa County Community College District institution of more than 10,000 across four locations and an extended site. He also served as the acting associate vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer for the Pinal County Community College District, which operates as Central Arizona College, a multi-campus college serving more than 15,000 students and employing 350 faculty and staff.
