Susie P. Gonzalez

210-999-8406

susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu

Chair of Trinity’s Economics Department Named Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellow

May 17, 2003  – Jorge G. Gonzalez, professor and chair of economics at Trinity University, has been named the 2003 recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding abilities as a teacher and adviser. The Z.T. Scott Fellowship, given annually for excellence in teaching and advising, includes a $6,000 cash award as well as $4,000 to be used for professional development and research. Trinity University Trustee Richard M. Kleberg III established the Fellowship in 1984 in honor of his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott. The award was announced May 17 during Trinity’s undergraduate commencement. Professor Gonzalez came to Trinity in 1989 as an assistant economics professor. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in developing both a minor in American Intercultural Studies and an exchange program for students and faculty at Trinity with their counterparts at the Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico, an institution considered the M.I.T. of Mexico. This program has fostered the exchange of cultural ideas as well as knowledge about economics. His research focuses on the world economy, international trade, development in Mexico, and policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. He regularly brings business executives with knowledge about Mexican business to his classroom and spends many hours and has served on dozens of Trinity committees. Professor Gonzalez is known as a mentor to many Trinity students, particularly to those for whom Spanish is their first language. Colleagues describe him as a “tireless” ambassador for Trinity and he is frequently interviewed by local, national, and international news reporters about Latin American and economic issues. On the light-hearted side, he served as faculty sponsor for the “All Kazoo Band” at Trinity in the 1990s. One of his colleagues, Richard Butler, an economics professor who received the Z.T. Scott award in 2001, said despite the fact that economics is “not the easiest subject in the world to teach, Professor Gonzalez is an absolutely, fabulous teacher.” He is known for bringing the “real world” into the classroom in a caring and compassionate way, Professor Butler said, adding, “Even the students who get lousy grades from him and struggle say they learn a lot from him.” Professor Gonzalez earned masters and doctorate degrees in economics from Michigan State University. He received a bachelor’s degree from Monterrey Institute of Technology in Monterrey, Mexico, which is his native country. Previous honors for Professor Gonzalez including being named outstanding economics professor, along with Professor Butler, by the Mortar Board honor society at Trinity, the “Highest Scholarship Award” given to the Michigan State graduate student with the highest grade point average, and graduating first in his economics class from Monterrey Institute of Technology.

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Last updated on May 19, 2003 by the Office of Public Relations