Growing up partaking in conversations and gossip that brewed when her mom served up café con leche for guest in their home in Titusville, Fla., Mitzy Gonzalez learned how to truly appreciate people’s stories and communicate through love.
Now she’s making a career of improving people’s lives.
Encouraged by her parents’ love and dedication, at age 20 Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of South Florida, and at age 21 is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Gonzalez’ areas of interest include health disparities and equity among Latino population, intimate partner violence, human trafficking in the U.S. and access to higher education for minority populations.
To gain knowledge in these areas, Gonzalez applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which offers a five-day summer institute and internships to encourage master’s-level students and health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a cancer research career.
She said the Éxito! program “impacted my life and my family forever” and solidified her motto: “Together we can work toward health equity for all Latinos.”
Gonzalez had strong advice to future Éxito! participants.
“Don’t let the words, ‘can’t’ or “I’m not adequate enough,” stand between you and your calling,” she said. “The world needs you.”
