Albert Gonzalez

Albert D. Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies at California State University, East Bay. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University, preceded by MAs in History and Anthropology, and a BA in History from the University of Texas at Dallas. His research focuses on Indigenous and Latinx material culture, borderlands studies, architectural energetics (e.g., adobe construction), and stakeholder-engaged citizen science. He directs the C.E. Smith Museum of Anthropology and the Pacific Earthen Architecture Research Laboratory (PEARL), emphasizing decolonizing methodologies in museum and laboratory practices.

• Education: BA/MA (History) - UT Dallas; MA/PhD (Anthropology) - Southern Methodist University

Research interests include foodways, industrialization's ecological impact, and architectural energetics across California, New Mexico, and Florida. He teaches courses in anthropological theory, archaeological science, and colonial Latin America. His work bridges academic research with community engagement through collaborative projects.

Key themes in his publications include Chicanx student equity, Indigenous food systems, and Latino archaeological heritage. He actively trains students in decolonizing methods for interpreting Indigenous and Latinx cultural materials.