Miguel Hernandez '22 Named Adjunct Faculty of the Year at Colorado Mountain College's Roaring Fork Campus

Meet Miguel Hernandez '22

Job Title & Employer: Spanish and English Language Development Teacher, Roaring Fork School District
Job Title & Employer: Adjunct faculty, Colorado Mountain College, Roaring Fork Campus
Major/Program: Leadership and Administration-Ed.D.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School: South Fayette High School
Now Living In: Glenwood Springs, Co.
Hobbies & Interests: Playing guitar, running, hiking, biking and spending time with my dogs, cats and horse

“We are so fortunate to have had Miguel Hernandez join our faculty at Colorado Mountain College. Miguel brings much experience from K-12 to our teacher preparation program, as well as strong academic training in diversity, equity and inclusion from his doctoral program. One of the missions of CMC is to diversify our faculty and staff, and Miguel is a wonderful addition and role model for our diverse student population.”

Liz Qualman, Director of Teacher Education, Colorado Mountain College

"Point Park's Ed.D. program stands out from others in that it has a personalized touch to it. Faculty are highly accessible despite being an online program. There is intentionality behind every course, and I don't feel as though I am lost in a crowd."

Miguel Hernandez '22

What does the Adjunct Faculty of the Year award mean to you?

This was a complete surprise to me, and I am honored to have impacted students in a meaningful way. It is so important to attract great candidates to education and the mission of promoting equity for all students. I am grateful for this honor.

What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my family here in the U.S., my wife Leigh, my family in Mexico and the amazing examples I have had in leadership, specifically, educators that I consider my mentors, C.J. Rodkey and Eric Stennett. They have been pivotal in my success in this profession, and they are the epitome of the phrase, “Who you are is how you lead.”

How did you find out about Point Park?

Colleagues turned me to the Ed.D. program. As soon as I learned that Dr. Stennett and Linda Hippert were involved in the program, it was an easy choice to join the program.

I love Point Park's professors and my cohort. They are approachable and always willing to help you succeed. The program is structured in a convenient way for working professionals.

What makes Point Park's Ed.D. program stand out from other universities?

Point Park's Ed.D. program stands out from others in that it has a personalized touch to it. Faculty are highly accessible despite being an online program. There is intentionality behind every course, and I don't feel as though I am lost in a crowd. Additionally, this program was able to accommodate me regarding credit transfer from my principal training program. It was an easy choice for me.

What are some of the lessons you've learned from it?

I have learned many things from this program. I specifically have enjoyed the faculty. They are experts in their fields, willing to help and understand that we are working professionals, and life can get in the way of the program at times. I've learned that leaning on your cohort peers is also essential. It would be very difficult to succeed without that support. Additionally, this program has forced me to stretch the limits of my drive to keep moving forward. It has challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, and my growth has been exponential to say the least.

Miguel Hernandez '22 Named Adjunct Faculty of the Year at Colorado Mountain College's Roaring Fork Campus Student Profile