| Mary E. Gonzalez was raised in Clint, Texas and graduated from Clint High School. Currently serving her sixth term in the Texas House of Representatives, Mary was elected in November 2012, to represent House District 75 - an area that encompasses much of eastern El Paso County.
During her time as a state representative, Mary has authored numerous bills to improve public schools, increase economic development, and support agriculture in District 75 and throughout Texas. She is Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and serves on the House Higher Education Committee. Mary chairs the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus and is Treasurer of the Information Technology Caucus. She is also Chair of the Board of Latino Legislative Leaders, a national bi-partisan organization of Latino state legislative leaders.
Mary received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, her master's from St. Edward's University, and her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction- Cultural Studies in Education from UT-Austin. Previously, she worked at the National Hispanic Institute, the University of Texas at Austin, and as the Assistant Dean for Student Multicultural Affairs at Southwestern University. Mary presently works as Executive Director for the Mexican American School Boards Association, as an independent consultant, and as an adjunct professor at St. Edward's University.
As a result of her accomplishments, Mary was named a "Champion of Equality" and "Advocate of the Year" by Equality Texas. In 2015, she was the youngest inductee into the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame. Mary received the Progressive Movement Leadership Award from the Young Elected Officials Network at their 2017 National Convening and was named a "Leader of Promise" by the YWCA of Greater Austin in honor of her commitment to eliminating racism and empowering women. She was awarded the "Champion for Children" title by the Equity Center, a Texas organization striving to create a more equitable public school finance system. Mary was named the "Champion of Transparency" by the Texas Press Association in 2021. Most recently, she earned the Texas Diversity Council's "Leading Light Award" and was named a "Legislative Hero" by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
Mary has been recognized by Latino Leaders Magazine for her leadership in education, was recognized as one of ten "Next Generation Latinas" by Latina Magazine, and as one of the 10 newly-elected politicians to watch in the nation by NBC Latino. |