Gilbert Gonzales is associate professor of medicine, health and society, director of public policy studies and associate director of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. He is also faculty head of Crawford House on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)
Vanderbilt’s residential college experience is a special aspect of student life at the university that is rooted in authentic connection and engagement. Undergraduate houses and colleges are led by faculty who live with their families and pets in special suites within the residence halls and lead programming to create another vibrant layer of learning and community. Meet the university’s newest faculty heads of house and heads of college in this special series.
Gilbert Gonzales is associate professor of medicine, health and society, director of public policy studies and associate director of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. He is also faculty head of Crawford House on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons.
His research examines how public policies affect health outcomes, access to care and health disparities for LGBTQ+ populations. He also studies the role of health care reforms on low-income populations and the social determinants of health among vulnerable youth.
Name: Gilbert Gonzales
Residential College: Crawford House
Years at Vanderbilt: 10
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Favorite song: I’m a millennial, so the best summer hits from my college days regularly rotate through my playlist, like “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects, “Umbrella” by Rihanna or “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay.
Gilbert Gonzales, associate professor of medicine, health and society, director of public policy studies and associate director of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, with his spouse, Andy, and their dogs, Jack and Freddie (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)
Favorite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I try to read it during summer breaks for inspiration before starting a new academic year. One of my favorite quotes from The Alchemist is, “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
Favorite food: When I’m missing home, I make my mom’s enchilada recipe, but I also love trying all kinds of international cuisine!
Favorite spot on campus: I always love walking into the atrium in Buttrick Hall, which is where my office is.
What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming academic year? Meeting new students and learning about their passions, goals and hobbies.
Why did you want to be a faculty head of house? I love working with Vanderbilt students—both inside and outside the classroom! Vanderbilt students frequently work with me or other professors at the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab to study the role of public policies on LGBTQ+ health and access to care. Welcoming new students to Nashville and to campus is also fun, as there are many resources and things to do on campus and across Nashville.
What do you value about the residential college experience? Living on campus was one of the best ways to meet new friends and professors when I went to college. The conversations around meals or in hallways and the first-year experiences are just as important to learning about the world and life as the formal topics covered inside the classroom.
Gilbert Gonzales, associate professor of medicine, health and society, director of public policy studies and associate director of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, with his spouse, Andy, and their dogs, Jack and Freddie (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)
What advice do you have for students coming to campus? There are so many opportunities for you to learn and grow at Vanderbilt! Do not be tempted to sign up for everything, but follow your passions and invest your time in a few things—whether it’s a student organization, sport or new hobby.
What do you love about working at Vanderbilt? I love being around professors, students and staff who are passionate about researching and learning about everything from honeybee sleep patterns to Antarctica’s glacial geology or the politics of coffee. There’s something for everyone at Vanderbilt!
In typical cat form, Stevie is making himself at home in his new faculty apartment.(Submitted by Gilbert Gonzales)
Anything else you want people to know about you? Also living with me in Crawford House is my spouse, Andy, our little dog, Freddie, our larger puppy, Jack, and our cat, Stevie.