A native of Worcester, Mass., Dr. Fernandes has three decades of experience in higher education, including seven years as president of Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she was also a tenured member of the faculty. She has provided senior leadership and has held tenured faculty positions at other distinguished higher education institutions, including UNC Asheville, and Gallaudet University.

She has dedicated her career to making educational excellence accessible to all students by welcoming the fantastic range of human diversity to campus, including every voice in decision-making, and providing support, accommodations, and reparations to achieve equitable education through differences. She knows we learn more about ourselves in a rich environment open to everyone and works to ensure that no one is so defined by their circumstances as to be denied the options and space needed to explore and find their authentic selves.

Education

Ph.D., Comparative Literature, The University of Iowa
M.A., Comparative Literature, The University of Iowa
B.A., French,Trinity College, Hartford, CT