Gonzalez brings over two decades of experience to position
The Jack C. Massey College of Business recently appointed Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management José González as the Massey Chair of Entrepreneurship.
Funded from an endowment established in 1998 by Barbara Massey Rogers and the Jack C. Massey Foundation, the Massey Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship fosters interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education, advancing the field through a holistic approach.
The previously vacant chair honors the legacy and impact of its namesake, Jack C. Massey, who was both an inspirational champion for Belmont and the consummate entrepreneur.
"José is a perfect example of the criteria for awarding this chair,” Massey College of Business Dean Sarah Fisher Gardial said. “He has founded and run companies; his service to Nashville (especially regarding entrepreneurship in the immigrant community) is well known and respected; and he is a master teacher.”
The appointment not only highlights González’s expertise as a key business leader but also signifies his commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset across campus.
"The entrepreneurial mindset is something that should permeate everything we do at Belmont," González said. “Whether you’re a nurse, a teacher or a business student, you need to approach your career with innovation and future-focused thinking.”
Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Entrepreneurial Mindset Roadshow
González recently piloted an innovative initiative coined the "Entrepreneurial Mindset Roadshow." By guest lecturing in various departments, he introduced students across campus to the principles of entrepreneurial thinking and how these concepts can be applied in their respective fields.
González’s commitment to cultivating entrepreneurial skills dovetails with University President Dr. Greg Jones’s vision of instilling entrepreneurial aspirations in all students, regardless of their fields of study.
Decades of Distinction
A passionate advocate for community engagement, González has long been involved in initiatives that promote collaboration between students, faculty and local organizations. Joining Belmont’s faculty in 2007 has only amplified the reach and impact of his work.
In 2002, he co-founded Conexión Américas, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for Latino families to succeed. He played a key role in helping Conexión Américas' culinary incubator Mesa Komal to open a storefront on Belmont's campus, Mesa Komal Café. Since launching in 2022, Mesa Komal Café has brought a variety of diverse culinary businesses to Belmont, while also supporting the growth of underrepresented entrepreneurs in the food industry.
González’s accolades include being named to the Tennessean’s 40 Under 40 list in 2003, the Center for Nonprofit Management’s 2015 CFO of the Year and his induction into the Nashville Entrepreneurship Center in 2016.
An Agent of Entrepreneurship at Belmont
With his new appointment, González will also work to create a more cohesive relationship between Belmont’s academic offerings and the Thomas F. Cone Center for Entrepreneurship, a resource for students interested in launching their own ventures.
“There’s a lot of overlap between what we’re teaching in our entrepreneurship programs and what the Cone Center does,” González noted. “I see part of my role as being a facilitator that helps to strengthen that link.”
Leading as a Connector
In addition to fostering a more robust entrepreneurial ecosystem within the University, González is committed to enhancing Belmont’s outward visibility and partnerships with community organizations. His leadership is characterized by an emphasis on collaboration, often involving other faculty members and community partners in the projects he spearheads.
“I’ve never been one to work alone,” he said. “I believe in the power of bringing people together — whether it’s students, faculty or external partners — to create something greater than any one person could achieve on their own.”
González’s appointment as the Massey Chair of Entrepreneurship strengthens Belmont’s position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. His deep ties to both the University and Nashville uniquely equip him to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
This appointment is not only a recognition of González’s past accomplishments but also a testament to his vision for the future of entrepreneurship at Belmont. As he looks ahead, González remains focused on one overarching goal: creating opportunities for students and faculty to embrace entrepreneurial thinking as a tool for shaping their futures, both within and beyond the university setting.
Learn more about entrepreneurship at Belmont.