Diley Hernández Honored as One of Georgia’s Most Influential Latinos
Hernandez (left) interacts with a participant in the program Pursuing Urban Sustainability at Home, a camp she helped facilitate.
Diley (Dyla) Hernández, associate vice provost for Strategic Initiatives, was recognized this year as one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This prestigious award celebrates her contributions to education and instruction, and achievement-focused research.
She was honored with the award on September 20 at Truist Park during a luncheon celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hernández currently serves as a senior academic professional in the Office of Academic Effectiveness. Hernández is also the principal investigator for the NSF-funded grant, “Collaborative Research: Broadening Participation of Latinx Students in Computer Science by Integrating Culturally Relevant Computational Music Practices” (REMEZCLA). This collaborative project between Georgia Tech and the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras addresses the underrepresentation of Latinx and Spanish-speaking students in computer science.
Before joining Georgia Tech as faculty in 2011, Hernández’s academic journey began at the University of Havana, where she studied psychology. She later moved to the United States, earning her B.A. in psychology from New Mexico State University. Her passion for understanding human behavior and learning led her to pursue a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Arizona.
Hernández’s scholarly work and publications focus on expanding the understanding of how social identity issues affect teaching, learning, and career success for students. They also center around developing innovative programs that support equity and address barriers. Throughout her career, she has developed award-winning pipeline programs for Latino students entering post-secondary STEM education. She has also created interdisciplinary research programs and curricula that employ culturally relevant and culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Hernández’s dedication to education and innovative research have made a profound impact on Georgia Tech’s academic community and beyond.
“This recognition is a testament to Diley’s outstanding leadership and impact on how we serve underrepresented student communities here at Tech,” said Steve McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Her work not only advances our understanding of educational psychology but also paves the way for more inclusive and effective educational practices.”
Writer: Julian Hills, Senior Writer/Editor, Executive Communications, Institute Communications