Fernando O. Gonzalez

Scholar.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Purchase Colege in May 2012 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both History and Political Science and a minor in Asian Studies. While studying at Purchase, I spent one semester in Osaka, Japan at Kansai Gaidai University - 関西外大. I am a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi) and was selected as the Senior Class Speaker for Commencement through a highly competitive application and audition process. I look forward to continuing my studies and intend on pursuing graduate degrees in the future.

I currently serve as the Administrative Coordinator for the University of Washington's Simpson Center for the Humanities, an organization focused on encouraging innovative cross-disciplinary research in the humanities. It is a great pleasure to work with a diverse range of distinguished scholars and graduate students.

Soldier.

I am a Sergeant and Squad Leader in the US Army Reserve, currently working with the 334th Chemical Company (BIDS), where I am responsible for the training and welfare of my squad as well as for maintaining over $2.4 million in equipment. From 2006-2007, I deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Operations NCO for the 329th Chemical Company (Recon), where I helped lead six ground-breaking joint-service hazardous materials operations.

Global Citizen.

I aspire to become involved in the global community. After one year in Iraq and five months in Japan, I believe that my ideal role would be one in which I can engage in peaceful dialogue and intellectual exchange. This could lead me to careers in business, technology, education, technical training, travel abroad, government, or any number of other possibilities. I greatly enjoy learning about other people as well as about different cultures through my personal interactions with others.

I am fluent in Spanish (Latin American) and am studying Japanese in my free time after taking several courses at the Japan Society in New York Cit