Bio


Rubén González, proudly from Greenfield, California, is a Ph.D. candidate in the Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE) program at Stanford University. His research interests focus on the sociopolitical disposition and action of teachers of color, and the use of critical pedagogy and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) in classroom settings. He dedicates his work to improving the K-12 schooling experiences of Black, Indigenous, all students of color, and other marginalized youth. Rubén taught high school English, English Language Development, and AVID in Sacramento, California, for six years prior to pursuing his graduate studies. Rubén also worked with (im)migrant and multilingual Latinx youth as an academic tutor in classroom and after-school settings in Dixon, California, during his undergraduate studies. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in English at Sacramento State University after transferring from Hartnell College. At the statewide level, Rubén serves on the Education Trust–West’s (ETW) Educator Advisory Council (EAC). In local community settings, Rubén has organized with the Association of Raza Educators (ARE) Sacramento, and Ethnic Studies Now (ESN) Sacramento and Elk Grove.

Honors & Awards


  • Ford Predoctoral Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (2022)
  • Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award,, National Council of Teachers of English (2021)
  • Graduate Public Service Fellow, Stanford University (2021 - 2022)
  • Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Fellow, Stanford University (2020 - 2022)
  • Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow, California State University (2020 - 2021)
  • Pathways Education Research Fellow, California State University, Sacramento (2019)
  • Area 3 Writing Project Leadership Institute Fellow, University of California, Davis (2018)

Education & Certifications


  • Bachelor of Arts, California State University, Sacramento, English (2013)
  • Associate of Arts, Hartnell College, General Studies: Social & Behavioral Sciences Emphasis (2010)

Service, Volunteer and Community Work


  • Member, Educator Advisory Council (EAC), Educator Trust West (ETW) (2019 - Present)

    Location

    Oakland, CA

  • Founding Member, Ethnic Studies Now (ESN)-Sacramento (2014 - Present)

    Location

    Sacramento, California

  • Member, Association of Race Educators (ARE)-Sacramento (2014 - Present)

    Location

    Sacramento, California

Research Interests


  • Civic Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Secondary Education
  • Social and Emotional Learning
  • Teachers and Teaching

Work Experience


  • English Teacher, Florin High School (2014 - 2020)

    Location

    Elk Grove, California

  • Academic Tutor, California Mini-Corps, Migrant Education (2010 - 2013)

    Location

    Sacramento, California

All Publications


  • The Struggle for Ethnic Studies in the Golden State: Capitol City Organizers & Activists. In R. T. Cuauhtin, M. Zavala, C. Sleeter, & W. Au. (Eds.), Rethinking Ethnic Studies. Milwaukee: Rethinking Ethnic Studies González, R. A., Rosendo-Servin, M., Williams, D. A. edited by Cuauhtin, R., Zavala, M., Sleeter, C., Au, W. Rethinking Schools. 2019
  • Speaking Spanish in White Public Spaces: Implications for Literacy Classrooms Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy Martínez, D., Rojo, J., González, R. A. 2018; 62 (4)
  • “Students with Big Dreams That Just Need a Little Push”: Self-Empowerment, Activism, & Institutional Change through PAR EntreMundos PAR EntreMundos: A Pedagogy of the Amerícas González, R. A. edited by Ayala, J., Cammarota, J., Berta-Avila, M., Rivera, M., Rodriguez, L., Torre, M. Peter Lang. 2018
  • "If Not You, Then Who, & If Not Now, Then When?": Maintaining a Social Justice Paradigm as a Novice Educator California English Journal González, R. A. 2017; 21 (4)