On his second day of work at SFSU, Míguel Hernández explained how he stopped by Tazas restaurant where he heard “Yo no se Mañana” by Luis Enrique. Without thinking, he started dancing and then bought himself a coffee before going to his office. For him, this moment created a pleasant atmosphere that felt familiar, like a place that can be a home away from home.

Hernández, the associate vice president of student life and dean of students at San Francisco State University, previously worked in director positions at other universities and decided to continue his career at SFSU because of the wide variety of representation of students and their different cultures.

“I wanted to look for a university where I could be in a position to serve students who have last names like mine, who speak Spanish, who have uncles and grandmothers and grandfathers,” Hernández said. “For me, that is very special and very important.”

Hernández, who is a native of Puerto Rico, began his dean position at the beginning of July where he oversees student life, student services and campus activities. Since then, he has had the opportunity to connect with students and their families as they adjust to the new academic year. Hernández said his colleagues also made him feel welcome by introducing him to different areas of the city to learn more about San Francisco and its history.

“There are universities in many places, but there are not many universities where you hear your own language, music, where your classmates say good morning to you, they know how to pronounce our names,” Hernández said. “Not (hur·nan·dez), I am (eɾ·nan·des).”

According to Hernández, at SFSU, there are more than 25% Latino students.
The dean says he would like no Latino to feel like they have to change how they dress or how they speak.

“I want them to wear the boots, to wear the caps, to wear the straps with the big belt buckle, to wear the braids and the suits and the shirts and the guayaberas,” Hernández said. “I want every student and every person who works at this university to feel like they have the opportunity to celebrate our culture, our language, who we are, without shame, without hiding that beautiful aspect of their lives.”

When he studied at Columbus State University, he was always involved in school organizations as an orientation leader, residential assistant, and others but he never knew that he could work as an administrator in student affairs.

After he finished his internship at a law firm and learned that the work environment wasn’t for him, the dean at his school informed him about becoming an administrator.

Now as dean, some goals he has for the university are: for students to understand Title IX, how to be part of change in society and finally to be a leader who always has a focus.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation in educational programs and activities. Hernández wants students to understand the responsibility of maintaining healthy relationships and that one has to ask permission and not take advantage of each other in the relationship.

He also knows and loves that freedom of expression is big at SFSU, but he wants students to still take care of themselves while participating in social change and activism.

“For the future Dr. Kings who are enrolled at SF State, I don’t want your lives to be shortened,” Hernández said.

He knows that he has approximately 600 students who work in his department and he wants them to know, understand and always be able to expect, that they will feel respect and that there is dignity in the organization between him and the students when they talk together.

During the first week of fall move-in at the incoming class photo and pinning ceremony, the dean arrived at Cox Stadium in full doctoral regalia, where he gave a speech in front of the students.

Hernández’s speech stood out to Chris Trudell, the assistant dean of students at SFSU, who felt the speech helped the new dean set expectations for himself and incoming students.

“That to me was just so stand out for him, to set that impression with the newest students that he really thinks through, not just his words and showing up, but how he shows up and infusing his story to help other students connect with it,” Trudell said. “He empowers his team that both in our careers work to support students, to be creative, to be innovative, to talk to students, to listen and get input. Because ultimately it’s not really about us. It’s about students.”

For the students that Hernández will serve in his time at SFSU, he leaves three pieces of advice: to call and talk to the people they love, take care of yourself, and lastly, live your best life.

“Tomorrow is not promised for any of us. Or them,” Hernandez said. “Don’t leave it until another day to call your grandmother, grandfather, mother, sister, her brother, and tell them a joke or tell them that you love them.”

*This article is part of a collaboration with GGX and the JOUR223 class, Bilingual Newswriting within the Bilingual Journalism program at SFSU.