Nicki Gonzales is an educator and historian. She is an associate professor of history at Regis University, and was the Colorado State Historian in 2021-2022. She was the first Latino person in this role.
Nicki Gonzales | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Yale University, University of Colorado Boulder |
| Occupation(s) | Educator and historian |
| Children | Danny and Teddy |
Biography
editNicki Gonzales was born and raised in Denver, and her family comes from southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.[1] Her family was part of the coal mining and agricultural communities in southern Colorado, until her grandparents moved to Denver for economic opportunity during World War II.[2] Her grandfather was an active union member in the meat packing industry.[3] She identifies as Mexican-American and Chicana.[4]
Gonzales graduated from Yale University with a BA in English literature in 1992. She earned her PhD in American History from University of Colorado Boulder in 1997.[2] While at CU Boulder, she was one of the researchers who built the case for the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lawsuits. Additionally, she developed a research interest into Mexican-American and Chicano Vietnam war veterans, partly because her father was a Marine during the war.[5]
Gonzales is a professor of history and vice provost for diversity and inclusion at Regis University.[6]
She is a member of the State Historian's Council.[6] She served as an advisor for several History Colorado exhibits, including El Movimiento: The Chicano Movement in Colorado and Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects.[7] She was appointed in 2020 by Governor Jared Polis as vice chair of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board.[6] She also served on Mayor Michael Hancock's advisory panel for renaming public landmarks.[8]
In 2021, she was named Colorado State Historian by the State Historian's Council.[6] One of her goals was to create "a more inclusive, broader history of our state."[1]
Gonzales was a major contributor to Denver's first Latino/Chicano Historic Context study.[9] Her research expertise is in Chicano history and Southwest social and political movements, including the experiences of Chicano/Latino Vietnam veterans.[1]
Personal life
editGonzales has two sons, Danny and Teddy.
Published works
edit- Gonzales, Nicki. “‘Yo Soy Loco Por Esa Sierra’: The History of Land Rights Activism in San Luis Colorado, 1863-2002.” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2007.
Recognition
edit- 2021, Trailblazer Award from Latinas First Foundation[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c Cooke, Kyle. "New State Historian aims to share a more inclusive, broader history of Colorado Facebook shareTwitter shareEmail share". Rocky Mountain PBS.
- ^ a b "FULL CIRCLE - 2023 HWWC AWARDS BREAKFAST". Hispanic Women of Weld County.
- ^ Palmisano, Laura. "The role of Latinos in Colorado labor history". KDNK Community Radio.
- ^ Hernandez, Esteban. "From Corky Gonzales to a home that sheltered gay Latino youth, a new landmark report catalogues Denver's deep Latino, Mexican-American and Chicano history". Denverite.
- ^ Rinaldi, Ray mark (August 9, 2021). "Nicki Gonzales is Colorado's new state historian. She's the first Latinx to hold the job. And that matters". Denver Post.
- ^ a b c d Eding, John. "Dr. Nicki Gonzales Is Colorado's New State Historian, First Latina to Hold the Role". History Colorado.
- ^ "Nicki Gonzales". History Colorado.
- ^ Simpson, Kevin. "For the first time, Colorado has a Latina state historian. Here's what Nicki Gonzales hopes to accomplish". Colorado Sun.
- ^ "Nuestras Historias: Mexican American/Chicano/Latino Histories in Denver" (PDF). City of Denver.
- ^ "Honorees". Latinas First Foundation.