With an eagerness to find innovative and engaging ways to present material, Joe Gonzales creates a classroom environment that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. A PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Gonzales is so adept at connecting with students on a personal level that students consistently rate him as one of their most impactful teachers. “We have overseen graduate student teaching fellows for close to 20 years,” said Erving Professor Theodore Betley in his nomination letter. “Joe is one of the most impressive teaching fellows that we have worked with. His passion, dedication, and talent make him an outstanding teacher who has positively impacted the lives of many students.”
While Gonzales has made many contributions to teaching at Harvard, it is his behind-the-scenes work that sets him apart. For example, when he returned to teach the second term general chemistry course, Gonzales went above and beyond his regular TF responsibilities to map out the connections with the lessons of the first term. He produced short concept review videos by editing the recordings of the “Foundational Chemistry and Biology” lecture so that students who did not take the class would have an easier transition into “Foundations and Frontiers of Modern Chemistry.” His efforts ensured that all students had a solid foundation and were well-prepared for the rigors of the course. “The word passion is used too frequently, there are only a few individuals who truly have a passion,” said Betley. “Joe has a passion for helping others learn chemistry and through this process, also show students that they have a place at Harvard where they are able to succeed.”
One student was so impressed by the support he received that he was moved to write to the department to nominate Gonzales for the Bok Award. “Joe was my TF last semester during ‘Foundational Chemistry and Biology’ and changed how I approach the sciences,” the student wrote. “Without Joe and his additional office hours, my experience as a first-generation student at this institution would have been far more stressful. He created so much community for me and my section peers last semester, and that community has carried over into this semester as well!”
Having a kind, caring, and effective teacher in their first chemistry classes in college can have a significant impact on students’ academic performance, motivation, confidence, and overall wellbeing. “These qualities in a teacher can make the difference between struggling and thriving in chemistry and can set the foundation for a lifetime of learning and success,” said Betley. “Joe Gonzales is exactly this kind of teacher, and he has and will continue to have this kind of impact on our students.”
Joe Gonzales, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is pleased to present you with the Derek C. Bok Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching of Undergraduates. Congratulations!
More on the 2023 Derek C. Bok Awards
