Dr. Nicki Gonzales Takes on Second Term as Colorado’s State Historian
Dr. Nicki Gonzales succeeds historian Dr. Susan Schulten and plans to highlight lessons learned from Colorado’s history of coalition-building
On Colorado Day, August 1, 2026, Dr. Nicki Gonzales will begin her second term as State Historian and leader of History Colorado’s State Historian’s Council.
Dr. Nicki Gonzales is a vital voice in the ongoing efforts to ensure that Colorado’s stories reflect the diversity of its people. History Colorado is honored to welcome her back as State Historian.
History Colorado has appointed a State Historian each year since 1924. The role became part of a five-person council in 2018, when History Colorado established the State Historian’s Council aimed at amplifying varied perspectives and reinforcing the collective foundation of history and storytelling. The council rotates its leadership position every year on Colorado’s birthday.
Dr. Gonzales, a professor of history and Vice Provost at Regis University, succeeds noted historian Dr. Susan Schulten as State Historian.
Dr. Gonzales made history when she became the first Latino State Historian during her initial tenure from August 2021 through July 2022. She has served on the council since 2018.
Dr. Gonzales has dedicated her life to exploring and amplifying the histories of Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic communities across Colorado and the broader American West. Growing up in Denver, she was immersed in the rich cultural traditions of her family, who have deep roots in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Her personal connection to the region fuels her passion for uncovering and telling the stories of communities that have often been overlooked in mainstream historical narratives.
“I'm grateful to share my love of history,” said Dr. Gonzales. “I believe that history is the great repository of wisdom, experiences, lessons, and unintended consequences. If we look closely enough, we find tools that can help us make sense of our present, better understand one another, and shape a better future for all of us.”
As a professor of history and Vice Provost at Regis University, Dr. Gonzales combines academic rigor with a deep commitment to social justice, making significant contributions to the understanding and preservation of marginalized histories. Her research centers on Chicano history and the social and political movements of the American Southwest, including collecting the oral histories of Chicano Vietnam veterans to preserve their stories for future generations.
During her first term as State Historian, Dr. Gonzales made it her mission to broaden the narratives about Colorado's past, ensuring that the contributions of Latino and Chicano communities and other historically marginalized groups were recognized and celebrated.
As Dr. Gonzales reassumes this role, she intends to focus her new tenure on lessons learned from the history of Coloradans building successful coalitions. She is currently working on a book tracing the history of the Land Rights Movement in Colorado’s southwestern town of San Luis – a movement that highlights the power of coalitions in the pursuit of justice.
“Nicki Gonzales approaches Colorado's history with a passion for Colorado communities and a deep appreciation for the individual women and men who have shaped our shared history,” said Jason Hanson, Chief Creative Officer at History Colorado and Deputy State Historian on the council. “I am looking forward to her term as Colorado’s State Historian because her research compellingly shows how Coloradans have historically come together to build coalitions, which is a useful reflection at a time when there is so much emphasis on what divides us."
Throughout her second term, Dr. Gonzales plans to highlight historical examples of successful coalition building in order to draw lessons for creating a more just and inclusive society today. One story from the past that exemplifies these dynamics is the 1979 gathering of National Chicano and American Indian leaders at the Chama Land Conference. They spoke about the need for unity among their peoples as they continued the struggle for justice and traditional land rights. Apolinar Rael, the movement’s elder, implored the crowd to remember: “We are the same people.” This moment of coalition-building propelled the community of San Luis to an unprecedented legal victory in their land rights struggle.
As State Historian, Dr. Gonzales is interested in hearing from Coloradans who want to share about their own experiences with building and participating in coalitions, especially those tied to civil rights and land rights movements. She will support History Colorado’s ongoing efforts to engage communities to preserve and share their histories, including through the Nuestra Historia Latino Heritage Community Symposium. She will also contribute to Borderlands: A Salazar and History Colorado Initiative examining and sharing the rich and complex history of the southwestern United States. She has previously served as an advisor for History Colorado exhibitions, including the ongoing El Movimiento: The Chicano Movement in Colorado and Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects.
Dr. Gonzales’ contributions also extend beyond her work in academia and in collaboration with History Colorado. She is a board member for the Museum of Denver currently in development, and she has played a key role in Denver’s restoration plans for La Alma-Lincoln Park. Dr. Gonzales was History Colorado's appointee to the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board established by Governor Jared Polis in July 2020. She has also served as historical consultant for the City and County of Denver’s oral history and documentary film project Nuestras Historias: Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino Histories, as well as Boulder County’s Latine and Chicano Historic Context Study.
The current State Historian, Dr. Schulten, hands over the reins to Dr. Gonzales following her influential term during the sesquisemiquincentennial – America’s 250th anniversary of independence and Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood.
Dr. Gonzales will deliver her State Historian’s Address at the History Colorado Center on May 19, 2027, as part of the Rosenberry Lecture series.
