Deborah Hernandez: Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship

Deborah Hernandez has been awarded the Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship during the UCI School of Education 2018-2019 Scholarship Award Ceremony.  Deborah is pursuing her Single Subject Master of Arts in Teaching in English.

Presentation Text

Through UC Irvine’s School of Education, Deborah Hernandez is currently pursuing a master of arts in teaching and a single subject credential in English. Acceptance to the program has marked a career change for Deborah, a former marketing communications professional with 22 years of experience working for corporations, creative agencies, and private clients. She graduated from UC Irvine in 1996, with a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature, and later earned a certificate in marketing through UCI Extension. 

As an active member of her community, Deborah has invested much of her free time in a wide variety of volunteer commitments. In 2013, she became a founding member of the California chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots organization that advocates for gun violence prevention policies. Locally, she built the Orange County chapter of Moms Demand Action, later taking on several state-level roles such as leader-trainer, spokesperson, and social media administrator. Deborah has also been a board member of the Valencia Elementary PTA, focusing her efforts there on school fundraising and public education advocacy. She also served for three years as a den leader for Cub Scouts Pack 800, participating actively on the organization’s executive committee. 

Through her many volunteer experiences, Deborah developed a passion for service and giving back to the community. It was this development that led her to embark on a second career in the field of education.

Originally from Pasadena, California, Deborah has lived in Orange County for nearly 20 years. She shares a home with her husband, their 11-year-old son, and a rescued greyhound.

Deborah Hernandez is presented with her scholarship
​by Irene Thomas, widow of Professor Owen Thomas