Dr. Patricia Hernandez is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Marketing Communication Minor at Wake Forest University and the President of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) National Capital Chapter. A seasoned educator and communication strategist, she brings deep expertise in program development, strategic communication, and research-driven design to her academic and professional leadership roles.
Before joining Wake Forest, Dr. Hernandez served as Assistant Director of the MA in Communication at Johns Hopkins University, where she led major curriculum initiatives and helped develop a new master’s degree program. A specialist in program design, she created an online M.S. in Communication immediately after completing her Ph.D. in 2012—demonstrating her long-standing commitment to innovative, accessible graduate education.
Teaching remains her greatest passion. Dr. Hernandez has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in communication and public relations, known for her ability to blend theory, practice, and strategic insight in ways that elevate student learning and professional readiness.
She has consulted for the CDC, small businesses, and higher education institutions, and earned a PRSA Silver Anvil Award for an innovative internship partnership with the City of Riverside.
Beyond academia, Dr. Hernandez served as Vice President of Character Education at Because I Said I Would, an international social movement and nonprofit featured on the NBC TODAY Show. In that role, she led global strategic communication and character education program development.
Dr. Hernandez holds a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication and an M.S. in Life Sciences Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her current research focuses on health behavior change through digital media, and she has participated in service projects across six countries and three continents.
Hernandez is a new resident of Winston–Salem. When she isn’t on campus, you can find her out for a sunrise run, cycle, or swim. She loves all sports (On Wisconsin), and she has an irresistible impulse to travel.