Magnolia Hernandez
Office of Academic Affairs, Health Promotion & Behavior,
Online Practice Coordinator
Clinical Assistant Professor
Office of Academic Affairs, Health Promotion & Behavior,
Dr. Magnolia Hernández brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, with a strong focus on access, funding, and career development in graduate education. Before joining UGA, she was the Director of Institutional Engagement at Excelencia in Education, where she worked with university leaders across the U.S. to develop strategies that enhance student success for Latino students and all learners, while advancing their academic and professional growth.
Previously, Magnolia spent 13 years at Florida International University, where her most recent role was Assistant Dean of Students at the CEPH-accredited College of Public Health. In this role, she created a dynamic, solutions-focused environment that significantly improved recruitment, retention, engagement, and job placement rates for public health students. She also spearheaded the creation of a dedicated career development position for the college, a pioneering effort for both the college and the university.
Magnolia holds a bachelor’s degree in Writing from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University, where her research focused on program assessment and quality in graduate education. At UGA, Magnolia is eager to apply her mentorship skills and expertise in evidence-based practices in public health education to support MPH students in their academic and career development journeys.
