Meet Vanessa Fernandez

An ongoing series from The Alumni Society spotlighting its impressive members

Alma mater:

Princeton University, Columbia University, UCLA

Where are you from?

I’m from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. I’m a bicultural Puerto Rican. My mom is from Louisiana, so I was raised in an English-speaking household.

Where are you based now?

San José, California

What are you up to today?

I’m on the tenure track at San José State University as an assistant professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Literatures.

What is a career accomplishment you’re proud of?

I’ve completed my book manuscript (working full time as a new mom and during the pandemic lockdown) and it is under review at University of Toronto Press.

What benefits or values do you seek in networking platforms such as The Alumni Society?

I am looking to make a career shift and bring the skills that I’ve developed in my years in education into a broader platform where I can have a greater impact.

What are you passionate about or what drives you?

Empowering underrepresented communities and finding common ground through collaboration to support more inclusive and equitable organizational environments.

Connect with Vanessa Fernandez