Mary Gonzalez is a native of El Paso and has grown to fully appreciate her Mexican-American heritage. Her multiculturalism that fed her sensitivity to cultural and global issues and later inspired her to put those issues in the spotlight. 

This Texas transplant has a home in Austin, where she enjoys the state capitol's cultural offerings of the Music Capitol of the world and she mostly finds herself in El Paso while running for a state district position. She enjoys all styles of music and dance. Working on her Ph.D has prevented Mary from taking part in as many events as she would like, but she is definitely content with her life's progression.

Gonzalez recalls that she's always been an activist at heart. Living along the border opened her eyes to such sights as the plight of immigrants, and in the halls of her school she learned first hand why Latinos are plagued with high drop-out and teen pregnancy rates. She also cringed as poverty stood in the way of proper health care. The leap from passive observer to passionate activist came with Gonzalez enrolled at UT-Austin and joined such Latino organizations as the Mexican American Cultural Committee, she launched a UT chapter of LULAC and was very involved with Kappa Delta Chi on the UT campus.

Making change for Latinos and other opressed people is still a strong part of Gonzalez's reality. Currently, in addition to being National President of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., she also sits on the Board of Directors for ALLGO and is a national presenter on race, gender, sexual identity and coalition. Anyone who knows Mary can see that not only is she an important mentor to so many, she's always willing to give of herself even if it means sacrificing her sleep to lend a hand. "Being a mentor is something that everyone should do," she shares. After all, if it weren't for peer and professional mentors, Gonzalez's path may have been different. "I am where I am because of my mentors," she declared. "I'm very fortunate that I have had so many people adopt me. Blood families are important, but the family we create is just as important. My mentors have shaped me, supported me and guided me in such a positive way that I wouldn't be here without them. "If anything's going to change the world, it's going to be that mentorship." 

Getting to know Mary Gonzalez:

1) My favorite Book is: Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza By: Gloria Anzaldua and Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire.

2) If I could pick any other career in the world it would be: A Professional Activist (or a professional Bachata dancer)

3) I never leave home without: My Blackberry

4) When I have a free afternoon I like to: Catch up with friends and my KDChi sorority sisters

5) The last movie I saw was: Between Midnight and the Rooster's Crow

6) My favorite thing/brand to wear is: Big earrings and high heels

7) My favorite place to eat is: The taco stand by my house, "Tacorido"

8) One of the things on my bucket list is: To travel to every Latin American Country