Ebelia Hernández

Dr. Ebelia Hernández is an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology. Her research focuses on the experiences of minoritized students and what can be done to address their issues and concerns. Influenced by her own experience as a Latina undergraduate, Hernández’s college experience transformed her thought and identity. She became curious about understanding the experiences of other Latinas and how they think about their world and their identities. Dr. Hernández holds a B.A. in English from Chico State and M.A. in Counseling from Cal State Northridge, which developed her skills in making sense of stories and provided her with the ability to create a space for people to share feelings and build trust. Hernández continued her education at Indiana University and received a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs. While in the Ph.D. program, Hernández applied her experiences to learning to be a researcher. Through the program, she discovered the words and the theories of things she wanted to study. These skills and trainings continue to influence her current work, conducting interviews others on difficult topics and experiences.

As a researcher, Dr. Hernández’s work addresses issues of equity and inclusion and works towards providing evidence for increased support for minoritized students. As the college population is becoming increasingly diverse, Hernández’s research provides the information to understand students’ needs. Dr. Hernández’s courses also teach educators to understand students’ needs and what is required to create a more equitable environment. Social justice and equity are the core in both her research and teaching. In her classroom, she implements hip hop pedagogy to encourage learning. She believes that students come in with knowledge and wants to create a space that affirms their experiences by making lessons applicable to students’ lives. Dr. Hernández is a proud daughter of immigrant farmworkers who were able to raise a daughter who was able to become a professor.

• Expertise & Research Interest

  Latinx College Students

  Critical Race Theory

  Student Development

  Student Activism

  Sororities

  University Response to Racial Incidents

  Racism on College Campuses (History, Student Reaction)

• Research Work with Students

  Dr. Hernández has continued her research on Latinx student activism. She has co-authored with Roberto Orozco a book chapter in Student Activism in the Academy: Its Struggles and Promise. She has also completed archival research at Indiana University with Marylou Rodriguez to write about the history of the first Latina sorority at IU and their role in Latinx student activism during the 1990s (book chapter forthcoming in Women at Indiana University: Views of the Past and the Future).

• Recent & Selected Publications

  Hernández, E., & *Rodriguez, M. (2022). The history of the first Latina sorority at IU established during an era of student activism. In A. Walton (Ed.), Women at Indiana University: 150 years of experience and contributions (pp. 153-173). Indiana University Press.

  Hernández, E., & *Ogali-Frederic, D. (2022). Self-authorship. In N. Zhang, P. McCluskey-Titus, & T. W. Cawthon (Eds.), Theory of college student development: Integration of knowledge, skills, and application (pp. 277-298). Charles C. Thomas.

  Hernández, E., *Harris, D. M. (2022). Racism as trauma. In T. Shalka & W. K. Okello (Eds.), New directions for student services – Trauma-informed practice in student affairs: Multidimensional considerations for care, healing, and wellbeing (pp. 95-103). Jossey-Bass. DOI: 10.1002/ss.20418

  Hernandez, E. (2021). Possibilities and considerations for the future of student development theory research. In N. Garcia, C. Salinas, & J. Cisneros (Eds.), Studying Latinx/a/o students in higher education: A critical analysis of concepts, theory, and methodologies (pp. 16-29). Routledge.

  Tomlinson-Clarke, S.M., & Hernández, E. (2019). Using culturally appropriate intervention strategies in practice. In M. Howard-Hamilton N. Zhang (Eds.), Multicultural and diversity issues in student affairs practice: A professional competency-based approach (pp. 189-208). Thomas Publisher.

  Hernández, E., & *Orozco, R. (2019). Latinx student activism: Historical and contemporary perspectives. In P. Sasso & J. DeVitis (Eds.), Student activism in the academy: Its struggles and promise (pp. 179-189). Myers Education Press.

  Torres, V., Hernández, E., & Martinez, S. (2019). Understanding the Latinx experience: Developmental and contextual influences. Stylus.

  Hernández, E. (2017). Critical theoretical perspectives. In J. Schuh, V. Torres, & S. R. Jones (Eds.), Student services: A handbook for the profession, (6th ed.), (pp. 205-219). Jossey-Bass.

  Abes, E. S. & Hernández, E. (2016). Critical and poststructural perspectives on self-authorship. In E. S. Abes (Ed.), New Directions for Student Services – Diverse and Critical Perspectives on Student Development Theory, 154, 97-108. Jossey-Bass.

  Hernández, E. (2016). Utilizing critical race theory to examine race/ethnicity, racism, and power in student development theory and research. Journal of College Student Development, 57(2), 168-180. DOI: 10.1353/csd.2016.0020

• Honors & Awards

  Graduate School of Education Alumni Association (GSEAA) Distinguished Faculty Lecture Award, 2021-2022

  ACPA Diamond Honoree, 2022

  American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Book of the Year – Understanding the Latinx Experience, 2021

  ACPA Latinx Network – Community Advancement Award, 2020

  Rutgers University Chancellor’s Scholar, 2016-2021

  ACPA Annuit Coeptus – Emerging Professional Award, 2013

  ACPA Emerging Scholar, 2011

  American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Faculty Fellow, 2011

  ASHE Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs’ Early Career Faculty Workshop – Selected Participant, 2010

• Files

  Download Ebelia Hernández CV