Interviewed August 14, 2022
New College Berkeley would like to introduce you to Rebecca Hernandez, a new member of our Advisory Board. This October 17, Rebecca will give an online presentation that provides an introductory overview of the church in Indian County. She’ll share information about tribes in the United States, examples of some historical Christian encounters with them and how Christians can share the gifts of our faith with this particular community today.
Rebecca Hernandez (Mescalero & Warm Springs Apache) is Community Archivist at the UC Santa Cruz University Library where she partners with local stakeholders to promote the acquisition, preservation, and use of archival materials that document the communities of Santa Cruz County. She holds an MFA in Exhibition Design and Museum Studies from CSU Fullerton, is a graduate of the UCLA American Indian Studies MA Program and earned her PhD in American Studies at the University of New Mexico.
Recently, we asked Rebecca to share a bit about herself.
Please tell us a bit about your background, who and what shaped you, and how your faith informed your calling.
I was born and raised in Alhambra, California, 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles. When I think back on my childhood, two of the things I'm most grateful for are my family and our strong faith practice. I was raised Baptist and converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the Serbian Orthodox Church. I have been an Orthodox Christian for 25 years now and found my home in this beautiful, ancient tradition of Christian expression.
My faith informs all that I do as a professional. My experiences as a first-generation college student inspired me to support others during their journey in higher education. My career is centered on community building - I serve as a consultant for nonprofits and museums, offer workshops and presentations on Americans Indians in the United States, and assist educators at all levels with curriculum and training development. I am driven by the desire to create equitable, creative spaces for people to learn and share ideas, stories and histories.
What are you currently working on at UC Santa Cruz?
For seven years, I served as director of the American Indian Resource Center at UC-Santa Cruz. While I was director, the AIRC student interns, program coordinator and I hosted over 100 events that centered American Indian voices. I was transformed by the work I did with students and am ever grateful for their willingness to share a part of their lives with me.
I am the community archivist at the UC-Santa Cruz University Library, where I partner with local stakeholders to promote the acquisition, preservation, and use of archival materials that document the diverse communities of Santa Cruz County. I joined the team in Special Collections & Archives in January 2022. I look forward to the ways the Community Archives Program will build connections with the community and reflect the varied lived experiences here.
Please share one hope you have for the future of Christians and the church?
My prayer for the future of Christians and the church is that how we live our lives will serve as a witness to others and be what draws them to the faith. We have a responsibility as Christians to be helpful, kind and thoughtful. As we move into the future and through these difficult times, I want folks to see our faith and trust in God by the things we do. Coming together as Christians, like we're doing with the New School Berkeley, is a beautiful example of how we can be a light in the world.