Monica Hernandez is a fourth-year doctoral student and fellow in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis on Higher Education at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio). Monica holds an MEd in Higher Education Administration from UT San Antonio, an MS in Teaching from Fordham University, and dual BAs in English and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Her research examines how higher education institutions, specifically Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), address structural workforce inequities by developing employment pathways such as internships for students. In this work, she explores how institutional design, workforce pipelines, and students’ personal trajectories intersect to expand access to high-wage careers.
Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Monica built a career spanning corporate, nonprofit, and educational sectors. She has worked as an eighth-grade English Language Arts teacher, a technology public relations specialist, and a communications specialist for education policy organizations. She also worked in economic development, where she led work-based learning programming for youth and oversaw the design and implementation of high school internship programs. These experiences exposed her to the structural barriers and hidden curriculum that limit historically marginalized students’ entry into professional careers, ultimately compelling her to return to academia.