Dr. Rebecca Hernandez

(pronouns: she/her/hers)
 

Rebecca Hernandez (Mescalero/Warm Springs Apache and Mexican American) is the inaugural Community Archivist at the UC Santa Cruz University Library. Her passion for preserving local history and connecting with the community inspires her work with the community archiving program. Through this program, she engages with students, residents, and organizations to collect and preserve important documents, photographs, and stories that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the county. Rebecca earned an MFA in Exhibition Design and Museum Studies and her PhD in American Studies, specializing in the scholarship of the convoluted and biased practices of collecting, naming, archiving, and exhibiting American Indian art in museums and other public spaces. Her experiences as a first-generation college student inspired her to support others during their journey in higher education. For seven years, Rebecca served as Director of the American Indian Resource Center at UC Santa Cruz. Under her leadership, the center thrived and, together with the student interns, hosted over 100 events that centered American Indian voices. She became a trusted collaborator and community educator, building long-term relationships on and off campus.

 

Rebecca frequently speaks about how her work with students has transformed her and remains grateful for their willingness to share a part of their lives with her. Rebecca also serves as a consultant for nonprofits and museums, offers workshops and presentations on American Indians in the United States, and assists educators at all levels with curriculum and training development. She lives in the city of Santa Cruz.