About Jose B. Gonzalez: Poet, Professor, Presenter

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 was 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

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
July 17, Hygienic Gallery, New London
September 17, Bryant University, Rhode Island
September 24, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Connecticut

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:
Thank you for your humanity, your warmth, ... everybody was buzzing about your presentation."
Professor Kevin McGarvey, Cumberland County College

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

Samples of his Work:

NPR All Things Considered Essay: “The Bilingual Conundrum”
Listen to Jose B. Gonzalez Read "Autobrownography of a New England Latino"
Text Version of "Autobrownography of a New England Latino," from Latino Boom

Jose B. Gonzalez in the News

Picture of Escuela Urbana Edelmira Molina in El Salvador,
the first school Jose Gonzalez attended

At the Acentos Madre of All Latino Poetry Readings, February 1st, 2008 at El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College . Photo by poet and artist, Oscar Bermeo. L-R: Louis Reyes Rivera, Raquel Rivera, Emily Perez, Urayoán Noel, elena minor, Sheryl Luna, Roberto Tejada, Xochiquetzal Candelaria, Blas Falconer, Diana Marie Delgado (foreground), Rodrigo Toscano, Sandra Garcia Rivera, Suzanne Frischkorn (obscured), Rosa Alcalá , Francisco Aragón, Javier Huerta, Eduardo C. Corral, Fish Vargas, Peter Ramos (background), Sandra Maria Esteves, Mundo Rivera, Raina León, Maria Nieves, Eliel Lucero, Rafael Campo, Curator & Host- Rich Villar, Martín Espada, Jose B. Gonzalez (foreground), Brenda Cardenas, Willie Perdomo, and Aracelis Girmay. (Featured reader not in photo: Edwin Torres.)