Dr. Joseph Gonzalez

For the past 20 years, Dr. Joseph Gonzalez has engaged in a broad and deep approach to understanding Cuba – its history, music, food, dance and other aspects of its people and culture. His research crosses disciplinary boundaries and includes relationships in Havana with the University of Havana and the Institute for Cuban History. His engagement makes Appalachian State University a pioneering institution in Cuba and has led to study abroad opportunities for students, through which they learn to be “travelers, not tourists” who develop important skills in working with people of different cultures and languages.

Among the courses Gonzalez teaches are Global Studies 2000, an introduction to the history and practice of global humanitarianism as part of a larger survey of current events and issues, and Cuba Libre, a survey of Cuba’s political and social revolutions through the prism of race. From 2013-2017, he served as director of Appalachian’s Global Connections, an academic certificate offered to students of all majors who demonstrate competency in both academic and experiential areas of global learning.

Areas of expertise

• Cuba and United States relations and policy
• Cuban history
• Global learning
• Collaborative learning and inquiry-based learning pedagogies and their link to learning outcomes