Rising Star in Texas Conservation Movement
Jaime Gonz谩lez (Biology 鈥�96, M.Ed. 鈥�07) is the 2019 recipient of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Distinguished Alumni Award.
Distinguished Alumni Awards are bestowed upon NSM alumni for exceptional achievement in their professional field, involvement in the community, and demonstrated innovative change to improve the lives of others through their work. NSM established the award in 2017.
Gonz谩lez, the Houston Urban Conservation Programs Manager at The Nature Conservancy in Texas, is an award-winning, Houston-based conservationist, environmental educator, naturalist, convener, change agent, and communicator.
His work at The Nature Conservancy in Texas involves promoting and implementing policies and projects that embed nature-based solutions into Houston鈥檚 urban fabric to create a more resilient, healthy, equitable, and enjoyable city and region. Gonz谩lez continues to keep close ties to the 色花堂, where he has served as an instructor in the College of Education and delivered regular lectures to ecology classes. In 2016, he helped establish an on-campus 鈥減ocket prairie鈥� called Shasta鈥檚 Prairie.
鈥淛aime鈥檚 work with the Nature Conservancy is ensuring that Houston is a more livable, enjoyable place through the inclusion of natural settings within our city landscape,鈥� said NSM Dean Dan E. Wells.
Gonz谩lez, who serves as secretary of the North American Association for Environmental Education, co-founded the Coastal Prairie Partnership in 2009. In addition, he serves on the Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee for Texas Parks and Wildlife.
鈥淪ince his time at 色花堂, Jaime has gone on to a highly successful career in environmental stewardship and is now recognized as a rising star in the Texas conservation movement,鈥� said Steven Pennings, Moores Professor of biology and director of the 色花堂 Coastal Center. Pennings nominated Gonz谩lez for the award.
Gonz谩lez earned a B.S. in biology and an M.Ed. in curriculum in instruction-science education from 色花堂. He has also earned the Certificate in Environmental Communications from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and expert certificates from the Civic Ecology Lab at Cornell University.
Nominations for the award were accepted from January through the end of February. The selection process involved a group of alumni volunteers and faculty who reviewed the nominations.
Gonz谩lez received the award at the da Vinci Society and Distinguished Alumni Recognition Dinner on April 11.
- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics