Monica Hernández
Monica
Hernández is the Deputy Director for the California Department of Housing
and Community Development. Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, she is
focused on telling stories that show what’s possible when every Californian has
an affordable and safe place to call home and how our new housing production
can be climate friendly and sustainable. Prior to this Ms. Hernández was the
first Director of Innovation & Partnerships for the Sacramento Area
Council of Governments (SACOG). In that role she oversaw agency communications
and led multiple programs including the Innovative Mobility Program; Race,
Equity, and Inclusion initiative, and Youth Leadership Academy. Monica has a
passion for leadership and talent development that emerged in her first career
as an elementary school teacher. She is a member of Sacramento’s Urban Land
Institute Women’s Leadership Initiative, serves as a mentor for Nueva Epoca—a
Latinx leadership program, and sits on the advisory board of the UC Davis
Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. Ms. Hernández holds a Bachelor of
Arts from Sacramento State and a Master of Science from Purdue University. In
her spare time, she is an avid home canner and cyclist.