Ana Maria Hernandez

Ana Maria Hernandez is a recent CSU Channel Islands Graduate, earning her B.A. in Early Childhood Studies in Spring of 2025. She received her A.A. in Chicano Studies and A.S. in Early Childhood Education at Santa Barbara City College in 2023. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Gamma Beta Phi at CSU Channel Islands. She is a proud daughter of immigrant parents from Zacatecas and Guanajuato, Mexico. She is a first-generation student who dreamed of being a teacher of young children from a very young age. Ana also has over 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. She has served children in the administrative capacity in the field of special education at the Goleta Union School District and served families at the Santa Barbara County Office of Education in the Child Development offices. Recently, Ana studied abroad in Italy and completed an internship at a Reggio Emilia-based early education center. When she travels, she enjoys visiting early childhood centers to gather successful ideas for early education to bring back to the United States. Lastly, Ana is also a mother of five and grandmother to Sierra. She is a lifelong learner, living her dream of higher education.