Introduction

1. Dr. Leslie D. Gonzales
Assistant Professor
E.T. Moore School of Education
Clemson University
Preferred Communication Strategy:
leslieg@clemson.edu
Please expect a response within 36 hours of your
email. If your email is sent on Saturday or Sunday,
the 36-hour response window does not apply.
Please expect to communicate via your Clemson
student email, as I will not alternatively tailor the course
listserve.
Office Location: 208 Tillman Hall
Office Hours: M or T, 2 - 5 p.m., preferably by an
appointment to ensure availability

2. Introduction
• Hi, everyone. I am so pleased to have you
enrolled in class.
• Please allow me a few minutes to highlight
a bit about myself.
• I can’t wait to meet everyone in person,
and learn more about you as well.

3. Educational Background
I grew up in northern Texas and northern New Mexico. I always
attended public schools. After graduating fromWest Las Vegas
High School in Las Vegas, NM, I immediately began my
Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at New Mexico
Highlands University, also in Las Vegas, New Mexico. While at
Highlands, I studied under Dr. Abbas Manafy and focused on
International Relations. I went on to study international politics
during my Master’s Degree program at University of Texas at El
Paso (UTEP). To complete my Master’s degree at UTEP, I
conducted a mixed-methods study to explore differences in civic
engagement among Latina youth living on the US-Mexico
border and Latina youth living in northern New Mexico. I went
on to complete my Doctorate at UTEP in Educational
Leadership, where I conducted a 4-year long study to
understand how faculty members made sense of a significant
shift in university mission, and (re)constructed their roles in
response.

4. Research Interests
• My research agenda centers on three major lines of
inquiry: (1) the academic profession; (2)
earning/reforming notions of legitimacy inside
academia; and (3) faculty evaluation concerning
intellectual activity.
• Overall, my research is concerned with how faculty earn
and maintain legitimacy within academia, and how
various intersections shape those processes:
intersections of identity, intersections with the
disciplines, with an organization, and with the field of
higher education, overall.

5. Outside of school
• Beyond the love I have for my work, I have a
wonderful family. Together, we enjoy music,
movies, bike riding, and eating at new
restaurants. My daughter is very interested in
all things art; she sews, dances, and writes. My
partner is an excellent athlete, cook, and he
keeps the household organized and running
smoothly. I enjoy weight lifting, running,
listening to different types of music, and
identifying quotes that help me capture the
moments and motivation in my life.