2019 Chancellor Winner: Nicholas Gonzalez

Nicholas Gonzalez plans to work as a paralegal for a few years before going to law school. (Photo by Scott Freedman)

Nicholas Gonzalez of Brooklyn is a Political Science honors major with a concentration in public law, and a Communication minor.

Gonzalez is member of the Honors College, the Presidential Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society and an ambassador in the World of Politics Living-Learning Community.

He also is a Purple & Gold ambassador, a senator and chair of the Subcommittee of Ethics of the Student Association Senate, a tour guide for Undergraduate Admissions, president of Lambda Pi Eta (the communication honor society) and a member of Lambda Pi Eta (the pre-law fraternity). He was a peer career advisor in the Office of Career and Professional Development.

He also has had a taste of the acting life, starting with appearances on public television’s “Sesame Street” when he was 12 and continuing through college with a recurring role (Emiliano Diaz) on the Netflix show “Orange is the New Black.”

“It was really fun being a child actor in New York City, but I thought coming to Albany would provide me with great opportunities and has a strong political science program,” Gonzalez said.

And he’s been happy with his decision. “My experience at the University at Albany allowed me to take advantage of unique opportunities, build upon my leadership skills, foster meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and students, and prepare myself to excel in my future career,” he said.

The future career? Law. After graduating next year, Gonzalez plans to work as a paralegal for a few years and then continue his education at law school. “In 5 to 10 years, I imagine myself on track to becoming a partner at a big law firm,” he says.

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