Denise A. Hernandez is a Public Administration doctoral candidate in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Arlington. Mrs. Hernandez obtained her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences from the Texas A&M School of Public Health, and a Bachelors of Science in Allied Health from Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the incorporation of Community Health Workers to bridge the gap between the patient and health care system, as well as CHW workforce development.

Mrs. Hernandez was a founding member of the DFW Community Health Worker Association for which she currently serves as the as the President on the Board of Directors. Mrs. Hernandez has worked as a CHW instructor and CHW ally for nine years and hopes to continue working to strengthen the support for the CHW workforce.