Dr. Rafael Hernandez has served as the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for the past 12 years and has concurrently held the role of Interim Department Head of Petroleum Engineering for the last 7 years. He holds the J. Madison Nelson/BORSF Professorship and serves as Associate Director of the Energy Institute of Louisiana.

Dr. Hernandez is a recognized leader in the fields of catalysis, biofuels, bioprocessing, and environmental remediation, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications. His research and leadership have advanced collaborations across academia, industry, and government, supporting the development of sustainable technologies and workforce-ready graduates. His work is driven by a commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and regional economic development.