Photo of Raul Fernandez

Raul Fernandez

Senior Lecturer

Dr. Raul Fernandez is a senior lecturer in the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, where he studies, writes, and teaches about inequities in education. Previously, he served as associate dean for equity, diversity & inclusion. He is also an appointee to the Racial Imbalance Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and has been named a Public Impact Scholar by the Initiative on Cities.

Dr. Fernandez’s community work helped topple a monument to white supremacy, held accountable a venerable but misguided institution, launched 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 vice chair of the Brookline Select Board – the first Latinx person elected to that position. He chaired Brookline’s Small Business Development Committee, which he founded. He also led the successful efforts to create a working group designed to better support the Brookline Housing Authority and its residents, a Racial Equity Advancement Fund, and a task force focused on reimagining public safety.

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.

Pronouns: he/him

In the Media

EdD, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Boston University

Graduate Certificate, Nonprofit Management, Northeastern University

MA, Communication, Barry University

BS, Communication, Boston University

AP553 Student Affairs

AP600 Diversity & Justice in Education

AP601 History of Higher Education

AP619 Leadership, Ethics & Values

AP662 Strategic Planning & Implementation

AP699 Current Issues in Higher Education

AP755 Legal Issues in Higher Education AP801 Professional Development Seminar

Why We Need To Talk With First-Year Students About Race
February 2016, 35TH Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience

Blind Spots: How our Backgrounds, Beliefs & Biases Impact our Work with Students
December 2015, Boston University’s Advising Network Brown Bag Lunch Series

We are what we repeatedly do: How your programming decisions reflect who you are
November 2015, NASPA Region 1 Conference