Alex Hernandez Installed as Victoria College's 12th Principal

^{Former Victoria College Principal Angela Esterhammer, left, Victoria College Principal Alex Eric Hernandez, centre, and Chancellor Nick Saul pose during Hernandez's installation ceremony at the Isabel Bader Theatre on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Minh Truong)}

By Tina Adamopoulos 
 
Professor Alex Hernandez shared his vision for Victoria College as he was installed as its 12th principal on Dec. 4.  
 
Hernandez highlighted the importance of honouring the college's history while empowering students to excel in their fields to shape the future, during his speech at the Isabel Bader Theatre. 
 
He emphasized that Victoria College—one of the two colleges that make up Victoria University—is a place that fosters opportunity for all.  
 
“The Victoria College I want to preside over should be known for how it creates .... these opportunities for all kinds of people, who then go on to work or to serve or else to throw down the ladders of access for all those daring enough to climb up,” he said.  
 
“The Victoria College I imagine upholds this proud tradition, even as it looks forward to the substantial challenges of tomorrow.” 
 
Hernandez began his role as principal on July 1, succeeding Professor Angela Esterhammer, who was Victoria College’s principal for 12 years. 
 
Hernandez joined the University of Toronto's Department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2014, specializing in 18th- and early 19th-century literature and culture. At the department, he served as the associate chair, undergraduate studies.  
 
As a special adviser on liberal arts education in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Hernandez led the development of a first-of-its-kind program at U of T that combined interdisciplinary liberal arts seminars with tailored internships. He was awarded the Faculty of Arts & Science Outstanding Teaching Award in 2021. 
 
Hernandez is already familiar with Victoria University, having been appointed an associate of Victoria College in 2019.   
 
At the installation ceremony, Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University, officially welcomed Hernandez to his new role. She emphasized the “magical world he is entering” and the university’s reputation for academic excellence and innovation. 
 
“Victoria is known for its academic excellence and for its close-knit community and its emphasis on the humanities,” McEwen said. “But it is so much more. Our real strength is our creative and interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. These values are at the core of what Alex values as well, which makes him the perfect fit to lead Vic College into the future.” 
 
HyeRan Kim-Cragg, principal of Emmanuel College, welcomed Hernandez as a fellow principal at Victoria University and said she looked forward to future collaborations via faculty, research and teaching between the two colleges.   
 
“You are responsible not only for leading an academic institution but also a diverse community of students, faculty and staff, all with their own hopes, challenges and dreams .... while at the same time navigating the complex landscape of higher education in an ever-changing world,” Kim-Cragg said in a pre-recorded greeting. “I have no doubt that under your leadership ... Victoria College will continue to flourish as an internationally known centre for excellence and creativity.” 
 
Randy Boyadoga, vice-dean, undergraduate in the U of T Faculty of Arts and Science, emphasized warmth and vitality as key characteristics of Hernandez’s ethos as a leader.  
 
“Victoria College has a deep, evolving tradition of excellence and service in and outside of the classroom,” Boyadoga said. “Alex is happy to see you, he is excited to see what he can do for you and do with you for the greater good.” 
 
“He sees the importance for dialogues. And whether we are learning or teaching, researching or serving, that is the transformative mission and great work of this institution, which I am confident Alex will continue in more inviting ways as principal of Victoria College.” 
 
Hernandez received his PhD in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, his hometown. His first book, Modernity and Affliction: The Making of British Bourgeois Tragedy, was published by Oxford University Press in 2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.