Manny Gonzalez
2024-25 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow
Dr. Manny Gonzalez was re-elected in 2022 to serve a second term on the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees. As trustee, Dr. Gonzalez has advocated on addressing regional issues related to basic needs insecurity, workforce development, dual credit expansion, and faculty & staff benefits. Dr. Gonzalez is most proud of the work he and his colleagues accomplished helping to pass ACC’s historic $770M bond proposition in 2022 to meet the growing needs of Central Texas and ACC’s recent first-dollar college promise pilot to address college accessibility & affordability.
Professionally, Dr. Gonzalez serves as Director of Regional Operations for Western Governors University, a national, not-for-profit, online university committed to serving students through competency-based education. Dr. Gonzalez leads strategic initiatives and education partnership efforts in the South Region which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Through this work, Dr. Gonzalez expands access to higher education by building pathways to careers in the high-demand, high-need workforce fields of education, nursing/healthcare, IT, and business.
Before WGU, Dr. Gonzalez served as Executive Director for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, enhancing the capabilities of trustees across Texas' community college districts. His work experience also includes positions at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas House of Representatives, and the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Dr. Gonzalez holds a B.S. in Management from Trinity University, an M.Ed. in College & University Personnel Administration and Ph.D. in Education Leadership & Policy, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gonzalez currently serves on the boards of the Austin 2030 Network (Co-Chair), Leadership Austin (Chair-Elect), and Friends of the Children – Austin. When not working, he enjoys family time with his wife and 3 young children, coaching little league baseball, and indulging in life long learning via podcasts and audiobooks.
Professionally, Dr. Gonzalez serves as Director of Regional Operations for Western Governors University, a national, not-for-profit, online university committed to serving students through competency-based education. Dr. Gonzalez leads strategic initiatives and education partnership efforts in the South Region which includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Through this work, Dr. Gonzalez expands access to higher education by building pathways to careers in the high-demand, high-need workforce fields of education, nursing/healthcare, IT, and business.
Before WGU, Dr. Gonzalez served as Executive Director for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, enhancing the capabilities of trustees across Texas' community college districts. His work experience also includes positions at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas House of Representatives, and the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Dr. Gonzalez holds a B.S. in Management from Trinity University, an M.Ed. in College & University Personnel Administration and Ph.D. in Education Leadership & Policy, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gonzalez currently serves on the boards of the Austin 2030 Network (Co-Chair), Leadership Austin (Chair-Elect), and Friends of the Children – Austin. When not working, he enjoys family time with his wife and 3 young children, coaching little league baseball, and indulging in life long learning via podcasts and audiobooks.