The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) established the HACU Hall of Champions to honor those who embody the mission of the Association through exemplary efforts “To Champion Hispanic Success in Higher Education.” The third and fourth inductees into the HACU Hall of Champions are Carlos Hernández, Ph.D., and Anna Solley, Ph.D, who were honored on October 28, 2013 during HACU’s 27th Annual Conference.
Dr. Carlos Hernández a psychologist who has extensive public service experience in higher education, has served as president of New Jersey City University since 1993. Under his leadership, the institution, formerly known as Jersey City State College, expanded its scope, underscored its urban mission, and attained university designation on May 29, 1998. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Hernández served in various capacities at the institution: as provost, vice president for academic affairs, executive assistant to the president, and member of the faculty.
Dr. Hernández is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Higher Education and chaired the Association’s Hispanic Caucus. He is also a former member of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and served as a member of the American Council on Higher Education’s Commission on International Education. Dr. Hernández served on the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Council. He is a reader and visiting team member for the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Hernández was formerly a Middle States Commissioner.
Dr. Hernández also serves on the American Council on Education’s Commission on Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, and is immediate past chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
In New Jersey, Dr. Hernández served as chair of the Presidents’ Council Academic Issues Committee and is currently a member of the Committee. Dr. Hernández is also a former chair of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has recently been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of NJEdge. Active in community affairs, Dr. Hernández serves on the boards of the Eastman Fund, the Liberty HealthCare System, Inc., and Provident Bank, and co-chairs the Hudson County Chapter of the Alliance for Action, and is a former member of the Liberty Science Center Board.
Research conducted by Dr. Hernández has focused on the impact of globalization on higher education, sustainability, models of technology-based instruction, international policies on literacy education, and Hispanic participation in higher education. He is a member of the editorial board of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. He is the recipient of several awards, among them, India’s prestigious Priyadarshni Academy’s Global Award for Promotion of Education, the Prabhakar R. Shukla Humanitarian Award, and the State of New Jersey’s Many Faces – One Family Award.
Dr. Hernández holds a doctorate in psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from York College of the City University of New York. He resides in Jersey City.