Joe Louis’ diverse professional and personal experiences have uniquely positioned him as a leader in higher education. He co-founded Rise Scholars at Rio Hondo College and currently serves as the Director of Rising Scholars at Mt. San Antonio College. With extensive expertise in developing programs for formerly incarcerated students, Joe has gained a deep understanding of the often-overlooked student populations that receive minimal support throughout the higher education pipeline.

Drawing from his own journey as a person in recovery and a former inmate, Joe’s research centers on the strengths of individuals who have experienced incarceration. He explores how they can transform their survival skills into thriving capabilities, ultimately being recognized as “Streetwise Scholars.” As a Streetwise Scholar himself, he passionately advocates for students, leveraging his lived experiences to inform his role as a pragmatic scholar-practitioner.

Joe Louis Hernandez, Ph.D., is a proud Angelino, having grown up throughout Los Angeles County. He graduated from Mt. San Antonio College and holds a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services from California State University, Los Angeles. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in counseling focusing on Student Development in Higher Education from California State University, Long Beach. He completed his Ph.D. in Education at Claremont Graduate University, emphasizing Higher Education and Student Affairs.