Jean Hernandez

Jean Hernandez will serve as the interim president for South Seattle College for the 2022-23 academic year. 

Hernandez retired from Edmonds College with the title of president emeritus in 2017 after serving seven years as president. She has earlier connections to South Seattle College, including serving as vice president of instruction and a prior stint as interim president in 2010. More recently, Hernandez has supported South in improving student success as a Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Guided Pathways coach.

Over a 37-year career, Hernandez has extensive experience at both community colleges and universities. She is known as a student success champion who is strongly committed to removing barriers for students from K-12 through their higher education years. In particular, she has worked to advance women in the STEM fields, address education reform for students who are in prison, and developed successful partnerships with both industry and community organizations. She currently serves on the Western Governors University Washington Advisory Board, Junior Achievement Washington Board, and University of Colorado Denver, School of Education Program Advisory Committee. 

Hernandez earned her bachelor's degrees in Secondary Education and Spanish and her master's in Counseling from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She completed her doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.