Great-grandmother's love of learning leads to master's degree

Dora Gonzales, 74, relaxes next to photographs of her great-grandchildren at her home in Gallup on Friday afternoon. Gonzales recently earned her master's degree in history at NMSU in Las Cruces. She is currently looking for a teaching position but may eventually return to graduate school to earn a doctorate degree. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Dora Gonzales didn't need her most recent commencement ceremony to remind her of the importance of education.

Gonzales has spent a lifetime with an appreciation for learning.

She had it when she graduated from high school in 1950. She had it during the many years she spent raising a family and encouraging her children to pursue an education. She had it when she began work on her bachelor's degree just after celebrating her 50th high school reunion. And she certainly has it now after recently earning a master's degree in history at New Mexico State University.

Now, the mother of seven, grandmother of 16, and great-grandmother of seven with one more on the way may be about to share that appreciation for learning with others. At age 74, Gonzales is looking to begin a teaching career in Gallup.

Gonzales said she was born in Gallup in 1932. Her parents, Demetrio and Cecilia Gonzales, came from Atarque, N.M., a small village southwest of Ramah. In 1938 her family moved to Grants, N.M. and then in 1942 to California, where her father worked in the shipyards during World War II.

Gonzales graduated from California's San Pedro High School, got married to a man whose surname was also Gonzales, and raised seven children while working part-time. After 29 years, her marriage ended.

After her divorce, Gonzales began working full-time, but thoughts of education were never far from her mind.

One of her daughters, Ronnie Campos of Gallup, encouraged Gonzales to pursue a college degree.

Gonzales listened to her daughter and took the advice. "The rest is history," Gonzales joked.

Just after celebrating at her high school's 50th class reunion, Gonzales enrolled in one class at Los Angeles Harbor College in Harbor City, Calif. Then she went on to take two classes and enroll in a college program for adults that offered classes at night and on weekends. Gonzales earned her bachelor's degree in 2005 from California State University at Dominguez Hills.

"Everything was fascinating," said Gonzales of her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She said she was able to choose her own field of concentration from a wide range of liberal arts subjects.

Gonzales then began searching for a graduate school. She finally selected New Mexico State University in Las Cruces where she "didn't know a soul." Because of her lifelong interest in the subject, Gonzales decided to study history, with a concentration in public history.

Her children helped her make the move from California to Las Cruces, where she lived by herself on campus.

"There's nothing like sending your mom off to college," recalled Campos, who expressed great admiration for her mother. "She's probably the smartest woman I know," she said.

Now that she has her master's degree, Gonzales is looking for a teaching position, either at UNM- Gallup or with the local schools. "I'm really not particular," she said."I think I would enjoy any age group."

However, even though she is looking forward to teaching in Gallup, Gonzales is still considering eventually returning to graduate school for her doctorate degree. She encourages others who want to return to school to pursue those goals.

"If you've ever had thoughts of going back to school, go for it," Gonzales said, adding that nothing worth achieving ever comes easy.

The difference between earning just a high school diploma and a Ph.D. is just about nine years of one's life, Gonzales said, but in terms of lifelong earnings, it is over $1 million in income. "But the satisfaction you get from it is priceless," she said.

"Every generation should try to better itself, and that's true for everybody," said Gonzales ."That's how civilizations advance." Campos believes her mother is doing just that in her own family. "She's inspired all the grandkids to do their best in college," said Campos. "They're inspired to try a little harder."