About
Dr. Francisco Hernández is a Chicano consultant, and former teacher, and administrator, and was notably involved in the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) Strike of 1969 as a student striker. During this time, Hernández was a member of the Mexican American Student Confederation (MASC), which joined with other student of color organizations to advocate for the creation of a Third World College at UC Berkeley. MASC’s leadership discussed joining the strike with its membership. Although MASC members were initially divided, the group decided to join the strike, with Hernández supporting the movement as a means to affect change at the University. Hernández was especially motivated by the desire to create a Chicano Studies program and have academic courses that were developed by and for Chicano students, reflecting who they were.
During the TWLF Strike, Hernández's duties included picketing, marching, and speaking to student groups about supporting the strike. An additional duty was acting as a bodyguard for Ysidro Macias, a key strike leader frequently targeted by the police. To safeguard Macias, Hernández even dressed similarly to him to confuse law enforcement. After the strike, Hernández was elected as Vice Chair of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.C.h.A) chapter at UC Berkeley, playing a crucial role in the implementation phase of the Department of Ethnic Studies. When Hernandez became Chair of MASC he participated in a sit-in at California Hall to demand the admission of 50 Chicano students; a demand that had been a part of the final agreement to end the TWLF strike.
Hernández graduated with a B.A. in American History from UC Berkeley in 1970. After graduation Francisco worked for the United Farm Workers and also became the Principal of a Chicano school, Casa de la Raza in Berkeley. He then pursued a Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the School of Education at Stanford University. His career spans roles as a teacher and higher education administrator. At UC Berkeley, he taught in Chicano Studies and Education, later becoming the Dean of Student Life and Assistant Vice Chancellor. He also served as Vice Chancellor for Students at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC), where he founded the Chicanx/Latinx Resource Center, and significantly increased the number of Latinx students attending UCSC. Hernández worked as the Vice Chancellor for Students at the University of Hawaii and was appointed by the governor as a commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) from Hawaii. He currently works as an advisor/consultant in the Sacramento area.
Those interested in uncovering more about his contributions to the TWLF strike can explore Hernandez' list of publications: https://www.coursesidekick.com/sociology/43073