Christian Abigail Gonzalez joined Cornell’s Dean of Students’ Diversity and Inclusion team, this year as the new associate director for student empowerment and undocumented/DACA student support. This role is essential in supporting undocumented students on campus, especially as new challenges emerge during the pandemic.
Born and raised in Santa Maria, CA, Gonzalez is a first-generation college graduate. They earned their B.A. in ethnic studies from the University of Colorado Boulder and their master’s in higher education administration and leadership from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo. Christian lived in Denver, Colo. for quite some time before moving to San Diego, where they most recently served as coordinator of undocumented student services at the University of California San Diego. In their previous role, they led professional development initiatives and developed inclusive fellowship programs for undocumented students.
As their new Cornell role, Christian hopes “to build programs and initiatives through an intersectional lens to support the overall success of undocumented students, as well as create a welcoming and inclusive environment at Cornell University.” Christian is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities and the Latina/o Studies Program is delighted to welcome them!
