Valeria Hernandez
Originally, I’m from Mexico, but I’ve lived and worked in several countries. I have a PhD in life sciences and I’m incredibly passionate about biology and environmental science. My students’ enthusiasm and ability to implement their learnings into their day-to-day roles motivate me to bring exciting new ideas to the classroom.
"I’m inspired by my students’ enthusiasm and ability to implement classroom learning into practical action."
Using innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to inspire students
Valeria Hernandez’s passion for biology and environmental science is what drives her on her mission to educate the next generation of sustainability leaders. As a professor in the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability at IE University, she encourages her students to tackle global environmental challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
Before becoming a faculty member at IE University, Valeria earned her PhD in life sciences. During this period, she conducted research and worked with computational models to test novel hypotheses. She has published seven peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters about her findings.
Fast forward to today, and Valeria has become an integral part of IE Community. As the sustainability industry continues to evolve, so do Valeria’s lesson plans. Since the field has become more interdisciplinary and technologically-focused, this has pushed Valeria to update her course content regularly.
Always trying to stay current, Valeria works relentlessly to find the most relevant case studies and innovative projects to integrate into her classroom. To provide further insights about data science tools and technology to her students, she invites guest speakers from diverse sustainability backgrounds to explain the industry's ins and outs.
Recently, Valeria conducted a collaborative research project with her students that aligned with her curriculum and prior industry experience. While balancing teaching with other professional commitments can be challenging for Valeria, she is proud of the results and for involving students.
In the research project, Valeria guided her students as they examined the effectiveness of various urban green infrastructure designs in mitigating urban heat island effects. The project not only produced valuable data for city planners, but also gave students practical experience in experimental design and data analysis.
Over the years, the most rewarding part of teaching environmental sciences for sustainability for Valeria has been witnessing her students connect theoretical concepts to real-world actions. Being a professor and an industry professional, watching them develop innovative solutions to complex sustainability issues is personally fulfilling. According to Valeria, “I’m inspired by my students’ enthusiasm and ability to implement classroom learning into practical action.”
Keeping pace with the rapidly evolving field of sustainability has proven to be a welcome challenge for Valeria. That’s to say, working toward a sustainable future at IE University takes time and discipline, which Valeria embraces. To address the fast-paced sector, she has committed herself to continuous learning through professional development courses and attending relevant conferences.
Another challenge facing Valeria as a Bachelor in Environmental Sciences for Sustainability professor has been adapting to the diverse learning needs of students from various backgrounds. This required her to develop more flexible teaching methods and incorporate more peer-to-peer learning activities, allowing her to keep her content fresh and future-forward.
When it comes to advising future students, Valeria encourages them to cultivate a broad skill set before starting their scholarly journey. In her own words: “While specializing is important, knowing multiple disciplines—from natural sciences to policy and technology—will make you invaluable in this field.”
Equally important, Valeria encourages students to get involved in everything that the university has to offer. In her opinion, they should never underestimate the power of networking and hands-on experience through internships, volunteer work, clubs or other activities within the IE Community.