From moving as a political refugee to building bridges and camps amid war zones to teaching at Oxford, Dr. Francisco Alonso has always answered the call to serve when he was needed. Following his remarkable journey as a professional civil engineer, he dedicated 13 years to teaching, with this school year marking his seventh and final year as Oxford’s Engineering Pathway teacher before retiring to Tennessee.
Born in Cuba, Dr. Alonso immigrated to the U.S. with no prior English education, building his life through determination and an eagerness to learn. He takes his father’s philosophy to heart: while many things in life can be taken away, education endures, and there is always something new to learn. This belief shapes the lessons he passes on to his students and the hopes he carries for them beyond high school.
“The biggest reward I’ve had in this country was that there were opportunities all the time for you,” Dr. Alonso said. “My parents were smart to always say ‘grab onto that opportunity, take advantage of them.’ That’s why I’m here, and probably one of the most blessed and happy people in the world.”
His engineering journey began at the University of Southern California’s collaborative civil engineering and architecture program called Building Science— the first program of its kind that focused on integrating building design with structures. Instantly hooked, he became part of its earliest graduating class with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture. He later continued his studies at CSU Long Beach for a master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Hydraulics and Water Resources, UC Irvine for his Master of Business Administration, and Concordia University for his doctorate in Education Leadership. True to his passion for learning and looking for new perspectives, he also pursued law school after receiving his impressive engineering credentials.
Throughout his career, Dr. Alonso worked as a civil engineer and US Navy reserve officer for over three decades, where he worked closely with the Marines to construct bridges and camps in warzones across Iraq and Kuwait. After retiring as a civil engineer, he still itched to fill his time with something meaningful.
“When you’re not deployed [in the reserve], you only drill once a month, so there were other things I wanted to do,” Dr. Alonso said. “I was looking for a job that would use my skills and education. When this teaching job opened for engineering, I really didn’t know what I was doing.”
Usually lecturing and presenting in classrooms to adults, Dr. Alonso wasn’t used to teaching middle and high schoolers. He obtained his teaching credentials and took courses on classroom management, determined to succeed and become an educator and inspiration to his students.
“Once, in life, you acquire all this knowledge and experience, you get to the point where you retire and all of a sudden, you look around and say, ‘Wow, all the stuff I put in my head is just gonna go to waste,’” Dr. Alonso said. “So I figured I needed to do something to really share and teach that experience.”
After 13 years of teaching, the most rewarding part, according to Dr. Alonso, is the pride he has for his students and the relationships he’s built with them over the years. Seeing scholars return to share their gratitude affirms the purpose behind his mission to educate and inform the next generation.
“I think [my favorite part of teaching] is going to graduation and having students come back to me and say ‘thank you for guiding me through the waters of life,’” Dr. Alonso said. “It’s been amazing; just helping people navigate things based on my experience has been an honor and a pleasure.”
Upon retiring, Dr. Alonso plans on moving to Tennessee with his wife and settling down, another obstacle for him — though, it’s not without its perks. After retiring, he hopes to be able to spend more time with his son who works as a Navy pilot in Florida and daughter, an educator in Southern California.
“I personally tell people I want to raise chickens— maybe even some goats when we move to Tennessee,” Dr. Alonso said. “But my wife doesn’t think so. She thinks I’m gonna go back and start teaching. She doesn’t think I can stop, and she might be right.”
