Josefina Gómez Mendoza holds a
licentiate in Philosophy and Literature from History Department at the
Complutense University of Madrid (1974), as well as a Doctorate in Philosophy and Literature from the same university's History and Geography Department.
In 1978, she was assistant professor of geography by examination, and in 1979 she was an associate professor. In 1981 she won the access competition for the Geography Chair of Spain.
In September 2012, she was appointed Chair Emerita at the Autonomous University of Madrid. That October she was also named Professor Emerita of the Autonomous University, and that November she was named Doctor Honoris Causa by the
École normale supérieure de Lyon.[5]
Gómez Mendoza was an elective State Councilor from 2003 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2013. She has been a Member of the National Council of National Parks since 2008.[4]
She was President of the Association of Spanish Geographers from 1993 to 1997.
In addition to publishing several books, she has written for some media outlets, including the newspaper El País.[6]
Books
1977, Agricultura y expansión urbana: la campiña del bajo Henares en la aglomeración de Madrid,
ISBN9788420621920
1982, El pensamiento geográfico: estudio interpretativo y antología de textos
1982, Viajeros y paisajes
1992, Ciencia y política de los montes españoles (1848–1936)
1999, Los paisajes de Madrid (Naturaleza y Medio Rural),
ISBN9788420644882
Awards and honors
1998: Gold Medal of the Autonomous University of Madrid[2]