Virginia Rondero Hernandez

Distinguished leader and trailblazer in social work, education, and research

Virginia Rondero Hernandez earned her BA in Social Sciences, then a Master of Social Work from California State University, Sacramento, and her Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Over a 45-year career, Rondero Hernandez distinguished herself in the fields of social work practice, research, policy, social work education, and leadership.

Rondero Hernandez’s early career included clinical, medical, and school social work practice, the leadership of the Children’s Transplant Association in San Antonio, Texas, and the Solano County Head Start, and research for the California Governor’s Advisory Committee on Child Development Programs. Her academic career at California State University, Fresno’s Department of Social Work Education began as an aspiring Latina scholar and leader in social work education. There, she was an assistant professor and associate director of the Central California Children’s Institute, developing original research in child health disparities and illnesses, which were influential throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Rondero Hernandez secured funding for Central California’s Social Welfare, Evaluation, Research, and Training Center (SWERT) to conduct more research and program evaluation in children’s mental health, adult drug court services, and Latino behavioral health. Her scholarship includes over 75 research publications, refereed professional presentations, and invited presentations. She was also an outstanding instructor and mentor to students. Within a decade, she achieved tenure and a full professorship, then was appointed Department Chair and Director of SWERT. Her accomplishments included servicing as Principal Investigator for the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program, the Mental Health Services Stipend Program, and the Central California and Bay Area Regional Training Academies. Rondero Hernandez managed an extensive portfolio of external grants and contracts totaling $14.9 million.

Rondero Hernandez left Fresno State in 2016 to become Executive Director of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) at the University of California, Berkeley. She led the implementation of their 2016 strategic and 5-year work plans and served as principal investigator for a $120 million portfolio of multi-year federal and state grants and contracts. She oversaw several new initiatives and program improvements, including revisions to statewide child welfare training standards, implementation of two stipend programs, and enhancement of CalSWEC’s communications and branding. To do all this, she forged strong collaborative relationships and kept CalSWEC at the forefront of social work workforce development efforts across the state and nation.

Rondero Hernandez continues to advance the professional development and well-being of her clients as an executive coach and consultant in the fields of health and human services and higher education.