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“TRIBUTE TO DR. I. MILEY GONZALEZ” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1206-E1207 on July 8, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DR. I. MILEY GONZALEZ
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HON. TOM UDALL
of new mexico
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 8, 2002
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez who has been serving in the capacity of Interim Vice Provost of Research at New Mexico State University. Dr. Gonzalez will be leaving NMSU after an impressive record as an administrator, an academic, and public servant to the community of Las Cruces, the state of New Mexico and our Nation.
Dr. Gonzalez rejoined the university in 2001 after nearly four years as U.S. Under-Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics. Before accepting former President Clinton's appointment to the Department of Agriculture in 1997, he served as assistant dean and deputy director of the Cooperative Extension Service from 1994 to 1996, head of the agricultural and extension education department from 1991 to 1994, and director of the college's international programs from 1992 to 1994. He began his professional career as a high school vocational agriculture teacher in 1970.
Prior to Dr. Gonzalez joining the faculty at New Mexico State University he served as a State 4-H Specialist at Pennsylvania State University and participated in Extension Program activities. He taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses including guest lectures in Spanish. He is a member of several academic and professional organizations, and has published journal articles and instructional materials in Spanish and English. Dr. Gonzalez received a B.S. and an M.S. from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural and Extension Education. In 1999 Dr. Gonzalez was one of six people to receive the Outstanding Alumni awards from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The award recognizes outstanding graduates and provides opportunities for interaction among the college's alumni, students and faculty.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Gonzalez has had a prosperous career while at NMSU. During his tenure Dr. Gonzalez was always known for taking time to meet with any student who needed to talk with him. It is often said that if our children are our future, the quality of our schools and their teachers will largely determine the quality of the future that our children will or will not enjoy. Dr. Gonzalez's interest in the well being of his students can be found in the communities throughout New Mexico, the country, as well as in the halls of Congress. Several of those former students, who worked with Dr. Gonzalez in either the academic or extra-curricular environment, have worked or are currently working in my office or in the offices of Representative Skeen, Senator Bingaman, Senator Dominici, or members of the President's Cabinet. He has also been named as one of the top 100 Hispanic Leaders in the country.
While serving as Under Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Gonzalez was known for his strong efforts to forging a closer, more personal link between land-grant and research institutions and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an agency that we all know provides funding for innovative research into the production of food and fiber, and the preservation of the environment. The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics provides centralized organization and management of the research, education, and economic programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In his role Dr. Gonzalez oversaw the Agricultural Research Service, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the Economic Research Service and the National Statistics Service.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my best wishes to Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez in his future endeavors. The community of Las Cruces and New Mexico State University will greatly miss Dr. Gonzalez's presence--but the product of his work can be found in the faces of our current and future leaders. I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the achievements and contributions of this outstanding educator, administrator, public servant and New Mexican.
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