Dr. Gonzales is an award-winning educator and federal healthcare executive. She has delivered educational experiences on five continents to both civilian and military populations. In 2013, she retired from the United States Army Dental Corps. She has authored over seventy-five scientific publications and was the recipient of the International College of Dentists Award for Excellence in Research, the Pierre Fauchard Gold Medal, and the American Dental Association's Distinguished Service Award. Currently, she serves at the Associate Dean of Extramural Clinics at the Dental College of Georgia.