Gonzalez on fast track to grad school

Childhood experiences can play an important role in a person's dream of what to become as an adult, and Mauricio Gonzalez of Gainesville, Georgia, was no different.

The First-Generation college junior at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is pursuing a degree in political science. He recently became the second student from UNG to be awarded a spot in the Public Policy International Affairs Junior Fellowship Program. The fully-funded, seven-week program is hosted by one of three universities (Harvard, Princeton and the University of Michigan, the host institution for Gonzalez). Gonzalez will take part in the program this summer. The experience is designed to propel students to graduate school.

"They're really preparing me for the rigor of grad school," Gonzalez said. "It's pretty great."

His father's personal story has inspired him, and Dr. Bibek Chand, associate professor of political science and international affairs, encouraged him along the way. In fact, it was Chand who suggested participating in the fellowship program. 

"I am not surprised that Mauricio received the PPIA fellowship. He has always been a go-getter," Chand said. "Mauricio is relentlessly working to serve his communities, within UNG and beyond."

The aspiration to attend law school or graduate school is in line with his desire to help his community, something he's wanted to do since he was a child. 

"People helped me when I was young, so I'll return the favor," he said. "I've really been heavily considering the legal field, because that's where I can make the biggest impact on people's lives."

His focus is to be determined but he’s considering doing pro bono immigration work.

"I don't really want to charge people because I've seen how my parents have struggled to pay for immigration bills and stuff like that, and I don't want to do that to people,” he said.
Gonzalez said he hopes to inspire others as Fatima Santillan, the first UNG recipient of the PPIA fellowship, inspired him.

"I always looked up to her. I've had interactions with her, and she's an amazing person. She's definitely a trailblazer," he said.

Gonzalez completed a U.S. Department of Agriculture internship in Washington, D.C., between his freshman and sophomore years.

"Without that first internship, I probably wouldn't have been able to get anything else. It was very crucial for me to get that first federal experience," Gonzalez said.

The next summer, he traveled to Ireland thanks to a fellowship from the Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship Program, and he worked for a trade union while overseas.

Gonzalez has also visited the nation's capital through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

"Mauricio has a bright future ahead of him, and I cannot wait to see where his journey takes him," Chand said.

Gonzalez’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by others.

“Mauricio has relentlessly pursued opportunities that support his growth as a community-focused leader, first federally, and later abroad in Ireland. The highly competitive PPIA Junior Summer Institute complements this previous federal and international internships by providing graduate-level coursework that will refine Mauricio’s policy expertise and support him in developing his career plan as a future civic leader,” Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of academic affairs, said. ”His impactful service and sustained leadership coupled with the training he will receive at PPIA JSI prepare him to drive meaningful, positive long-term change throughout his career in law and beyond.”