Dr. Ana Gabriela Hernández is a Senior Lecturer III and Coordinator of Spanish as a Heritage Language. She earned her Ph.D. in Spanish from UNM in 2017. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of New Mexico, she was a visiting instructor at Emory University (2017–2019) and held a position at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (2001–2009).

Dr. Hernández’s primary scholarly focus is on textual representations of women in Mexican cultural memory, particularly how magical and religious women have been portrayed in discourses that shape Mexican cultural identities. Her research has been published in iMex: Interdisciplinary Mexico (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf), Confluencia: Revista Hispánica de Cultura y Literatura (University of Northern Colorado), and Transgresión Femenina.

In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Hernández is a creative writer whose poetry has appeared in literary journals and co-authored books. Her creative writing often explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage. As SHL Coordinator, she integrates creative writing and social justice into language learning, fostering spaces where heritage speakers can connect personal expression with cultural empowerment.