Ben Hernandez

Job title:

L&S College Adviser

Bio/CV:

Title: L&S College Adviser

Neighborhood: Social Sciences/Interdisciplinary

Make an appointment:

To make a virtual appointment with this adviser, book here.

About Ben

Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in:
June 2025

Education

M.A. in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education, Cal State Long Beach

B.A. in Political Science, UC Davis

How did you get here?

During my last quarter of undergrad, I was part of the UC Center Sacramento Program, where I interned at the California Department of Education. It was through this program that I discovered I had a passion for education - I just didn’t know what that would translate to professionally. So I dove right in and moved to San Francisco to work in K-12 education. I worked as a teachers assistant and eventually became a kindergarten teacher. During this time, I also volunteered at a non-profit organization as a student mentor that focused on providing individualized support to low income high school students navigating the college admissions process. It was through this experience that I got a glimpse into advising.

Shortly after, I went to CSU Long Beach for graduate school where I worked as a peer academic coach. This experience solidified my love for advising. After graduating, I became an Economics Undergraduate Adviser and Testing Accommodations Coordinator at UC Santa Cruz, where I realized this was my professional calling - It's what I was meant to do. Now I am here, at UC Berkeley, happy to be supporting you all during your academic journey.

What is your advising philosophy?

My advising philosophy is rooted in holistic advising. I want to ensure that students have all the necessary tools to make informed decisions throughout their academic journey. In addition, I want to ensure that I create a safe space where students feel comfortable sharing their lived experiences. By doing so, I can help them identify their core values to help them identify how to reach their goals and aspirations that are true to them.

What advice do you have for L&S students in general?

Enjoy your time at Berkeley and this time in your life. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus, so go out and find your community. Additionally, don’t be afraid to reach out to us for support. We are always here to be a listening ear, and even if we don’t know the answer, we will figure it out together.

Last not but least, don’t forget to have fun!

More about me

I watch an unhealthy amount of college and professional football during the fall. During the winter, you can find me in Tahoe skiing. In the spring and summer, I will be hanging out with my dog Sky.

Role:

Advising Neighborhood: Social Sciences/Interdisciplinary

L&S College Adviser

Topics