Meet the CEO
Dr. Reyes González has more than two decades of higher education experience, fostering opportunities for first-generation students in the Chicago area and at other Midwestern universities. A native of Mexico, and son of a farm laborer, his family moved to the Chicago area when he was a young boy. Dedicated teachers guided his assimilation into English-speaking schools and helped him create his vision of a future built on educational opportunity. He attended Lane Technical High School, where his lifelong admiration for faculty and the value of service began. President González’s leadership in education is founded on his passion for excellence, innovation and continuous improvement—all which trace back to his engineering roots. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and spent his early career researching and developing new product designs that depended on measurable results. During his time as an engineer for the City Colleges of Chicago, he volunteered, raising funds for scholarships for Latino students.
Successful analysis, strategic planning and negotiation efforts with legislators, business and community leaders secured President González several leadership positions at the City Colleges of Chicago over a 15-year period, including Associate Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, and Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. In these leadership capacities, President González directed administrative services and operations for the institution’s seven colleges, learning institutes and technical institutes. His knowledge of the Chicago area’s educational landscape also includes director-level duties at Chicago Public Schools, where he led the design and construction of new schools.
President González administered stewardship of financial resources, technology and support services while serving in several executive administrative roles at Mount Mary University, a mission-driven institution serving one of Wisconsin’s most diverse student bodies. During his nine-year tenure there, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Senior Vice President for Finance. For his commitment to excellence and innovation, he was acknowledged as CFO of the Year in Wisconsin by an independent organization.
President González received a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. He focused his research on student learning, cognitive science, pedagogy, program and curriculum design, review and assessment, culture and other factors necessary to achieve academic and institutional excellence. President González also holds an MS in Accountancy and an MBA in Change Management from DePaul University. Dr. González and his wife, Dr. Ángeles Rodríguez-González, reside in Chicago along with their extended family.
