Dr. Emilio Hernandez Jr. was most recently the Assistant Vice president in the office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Oregon. Prior to this appointment he was the Director of the University of Oregon's High School Equivalency Program [HEP]. HEP assists migrant/seasonal farm workers who have not completed high school to obtain their GED certificate and provide guidance into higher education or the workforce.

As a former migrant farm worker and the oldest of six siblings he learned English going through the public school system in Oregon, this provided him with a life-long experience as to the struggles facing those youth/adults that would follow him and his siblings.

He has served nine years on the State of Oregon Board of Education, serving under three governors and three public school superintendents. He was the first Latino to be appointed to the board. Emilio has a long history working with Oregon's nine tribes and serving on several nationally Latino educational committees. He continues to be involved in educational and right issues for under-represented communities.

Emilio's educational background, a BA in youth corrections/family counseling, Master's, Organizational and Program Administration, PhD Higher Education Administration [focus community college administration].