Dr. Gonzales is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Arts with Majors in Biology and Spanish from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She received her Master of Science in Nursing and PhD in Nursing from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa with a focal area of Parent, Child and Family Nursing. Her dissertation research was in the area of Safe Medication Administration. After completing her doctoral studies, she continued her education by completing a Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from UNMC in order to gain additional clinical expertise and role expansion as an advanced practice nurse. After completing her FNP, she was eager to gain experience as a Primary Care Provider and has since had a faculty position that has included 30-50% practice. Practice continues to inform her current research interests, which include research in the area of primary care, health promotion, disease prevention, chronic disease management, and health behaviors. She presently teaches and course leads in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. She has been a full-time faculty of nursing since 2006.