Dr. Raul Fernandez is a public impact scholar. As a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, he studies, writes, and teaches about inequities in education. As Chair of DESE’s Racial Imbalance Advisory Council, he advises the Commissioner of Education on school segregation across the Commonwealth. And, as the Executive Director of Brookline for Racial Justice & Equity, he rallies his neighbors in the relentless pursuit of racial and economic justice. He was also recently named a Public Impact Scholar by the Initiative on Cities.

In the last few years alone, he researched and wrote a piece that helped topple a monument to white supremacy, held accountable a misguided institution, created a film and conversation series that engaged thousands of participants in challenging dialogues on social justice issues, and trained thousands more in developing equitable policies and practices at institutions throughout the country and beyond. 

Dr. Fernandez also served as a member of Brookline Select Board – the first Latinx person elected to that position. During his time there he created a working group to support public housing residents, a Racial Equity Advancement Fund, and a task force to reimagine public safety.

His recent academic pursuits have focused on how policymaking through the courts, state legislatures, and the federal government have impacted higher education policy and practice. He is also launching a new graduate-level course on School Segregation this semester.

Dr. Fernandez is the Policy Chair on the board of Amplify Latinx, which seeks to build economic and political power for Latinos in Massachusetts, and a board member of Commonwealth Kitchen, which supports women and people of color in starting food businesses.

Dr. Fernandez regularly consults with organizations on issues of equity and inclusion and leads workshops which challenge participants to examine their background, beliefs, and biases while moving urgently to address social justice issues by making changes to policy and practice.

He’s facilitated workshops for teachers and academics, doctors and nurses, lawyers and social workers, business and nonprofit leaders, artists and librarians, students and seniors, and more.

Recent Highlights:

He has also presented at numerous conferences including SXSWedu, the annual METCO Conference, the Conference on the First Year Experience and NASPA regional, national and international conferences. He's been a guest facilitator on Teaching in a Diverse Classroom at Boston University’s New Faculty Retreat and facilitated workshops at the New England College Health Association’s (NECHA) Annual Meeting, the Youth at Risk Conference, the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Massachusetts Drive-In Conference and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) Annual Business Meeting.

Raul previously taught courses in Speech and Communication at Miami-Dade College, and taught a section of BU’s First Year Experience course for five years. He also co-developed the curriculum and taught a Boston University course on Identity, Inclusion & Social Action. The course helps students to examine systems of oppression and identify opportunities to work toward social justice. In addition to teaching his own section, Raul developed the module on Race, Ethnicity and National Origin, with a focus on the causes and impact of implicit bias.

Raul’s expertise also includes engaging students in transformative social justice experiences, having led such trips to Haiti, Honduras, and Rwanda. While working at BU’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, he also developed a 10-day social justice retreat to Washington, DC where students explored the interplay between those who advocate for and those who legislate social justice issues.

While working at BU’s Student Activities Office, Raul brought diverse speakers, performers and events to campus, including creating #BULEADS, a leadership summit focused on innovation, collaboration and social action, Let’s Talk About It, a moderated discussion on race, power and privilege, and Mind the Gap, a town hall conversation on masculinity and the gender divide.

In 17 years at BU, Raul has chaired or served on numerous committees including the Campus Activities Team, Alcohol Task Force, Scarlet Key Selection, Multicultural Weekend, Student Affairs Management Conference, Social Media Communicators, and the University Retention & Engagement Committee.

Raul has been active in NASPA, a student affairs association, for several years, including stints as the regional Latinx Knowledge Community Representative and Faculty Council Representative, as well as a member of NASPA’s nation-wide Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice Division.

A first-generation college graduate, Raul holds degrees in Communication and Nonprofit Management from Boston University, Barry University and Northeastern University, as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Boston University’s School of Education. His dissertation examined the contributions of 143 Student Trustees at the University of Massachusetts, from 1969-2015, demystifying one of the ways that students can engage in institutional governance and policymaking at the highest level.

He has taught Diversity & Justice in Education, Legal Issues in Higher Education, History of Higher Education, Student Affairs, Current Issues in Higher Education, Leadership, Ethics & Values, and Strategic Planning & Implementation.