[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 90 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1206-E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. I. MILEY GONZALEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             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.

[[Page E1207]]

  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.

                          ____________________