Legacy of Excellence
Spanish alumnus Jos茅 B. Fern谩ndez celebrates a rich academic career, provides opportunities for FSU students to forge their own paths
Generations of 糖心vlog students have endured the chaos of campus traffic before 8 a.m. classes, but few of them have been lucky enough to skip it by catching a ride from the university鈥檚 president.
Jos茅 B. Fern谩ndez, a three-time FSU graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 in Spanish and history, a master鈥檚 in Spanish, and a doctorate in Spanish with a minor in history from the and , is one of a kind.
鈥淲here else except FSU would the president, J. Stanley Marshall during my time, be willing to offer a student a ride?鈥 Fern谩ndez said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the embodiment of FSU. Faculty and administrators are very approachable, and there鈥檚 always interaction among the community.鈥
While he didn鈥檛 know it at the time, this experience imprinted on Fern谩ndez the type of leader he wanted to become: a mentor admired for his enthusiasm, dedication and collegiality.
Fern谩ndez went on to a 45-year academic career as a preeminent scholar of Hispanic languages and history, from which he retired in 2018. Starting in 1998, he held four separate administrative roles at the University of Central Florida where he also became the university鈥檚 first Hispanic dean and led UCF鈥檚 College of Arts and Humanities for a decade. In addition to his administration, teaching, and mentorship, Fern谩ndez authored more than 13 books and 40 articles and co-authored 14 textbooks.
He was honored by his alma mater in 2022 as an Grad Made Good 鈥 a program that recognizes notable alumni who have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field or community.
鈥淭his honor is thanks to everyone I鈥檝e encountered in my personal life and career, especially at FSU,鈥 Fern谩ndez said. 鈥淔SU helped me develop my social life, career opportunities, and most notably, my confidence. If you had asked me about an award like this when I was a student, I would鈥檝e said no way, Jos茅!鈥
Upon Fern谩ndez鈥檚 doctoral graduation in 1973, Jerrell Shofner, the late two-time FSU alumnus and eminent scholar of Florida history, encouraged him to join the Florida Historical Society, the state鈥檚 oldest cultural organization dedicated to preserving Florida鈥檚 past. Fern谩ndez served on the organization鈥檚 board of directors for 20 years and as vice president for two before becoming the organization鈥檚 first Hispanic president in 2006.
While working with FHS, in 1992, Fern谩ndez was elected to the board of directors of Recovering the Hispanic Literary Heritage of the U.S., an over $20 million international program aimed at locating, preserving, and disseminating the nation鈥檚 Hispanic culture, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, among others. There, he concentrated on bringing to light nearly 300 years鈥 worth of U.S. Latino history and literature.
鈥This honor is thanks to everyone I鈥檝e encountered in my personal life and career... FSU helped me develop my social life, career opportunities, and most notably, my confidence. If you had asked me about an award like this when I was a student, I would鈥檝e said no way, Jos茅!鈥
鈥 Jos茅 B. Fern谩ndez
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the most hard-working and productive scholars and teachers in Spanish studies,鈥 said Nicol谩s Kanellos, professor of Hispanic studies at the University of Houston, Texas, and founder and director of the Recovering Hispanic Literary Heritage project who recruited Fern谩ndez. 鈥淗is passion for knowledge, especially regarding colonial Hispanic culture in the making of the United States, is incomparable. He's an innovative and critical thinker who鈥檚 inspired hundreds of scholars across the country to explore the paths he鈥檚 pioneered.鈥
With a distinguished career in full swing, in 2008, Fern谩ndez was appointed by then-President George W. Bush to the 23-member commission for the creation of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino and was reappointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009. Fern谩ndez examined Spanish colonial letters and was on the governance committee comparing benefits and drawbacks of various museum model details.
鈥淟ike in all my work I, along with my fellow commission members, helped to illuminate the entire U.S. experience, including Hispanic history, to display the all-encompassing American story,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he commission was a symbol of respect and how you can accomplish much more by cooperating.鈥
Fern谩ndez is also a fan of paying forward the encouragement he received that led him to strive for his goals in life. In 2024, he established the Dr. Dorothy L. Hoffman Endowment for Excellence Scholarship to benefit FSU master's and doctoral students studying Spanish. The scholarship honors the late FSU professor and department chair and carries on her legacy of student support.
鈥淲hen someone has been good to you, you should give that good right back 鈥 three times as much,鈥 Fern谩ndez said, reflecting on advice from his grandfather who inspired him to study history. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never about the accolades 鈥 it鈥檚 about the people who help you realize those accolades are a possibility.鈥
Bella Bozied is an FSU alumna who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in information, communication and technology with a dual major in editing, writing and media in 2024. She is currently pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in integrated marketing management communication with a certification in project management and is set to graduate in May 2026.