MinerAlert
MinerAlert
July 2026
By Alexandra Sanchez ’17
When Georgina Hernandez ’05 chose to attend The University of Texas at El Paso, finding a community meant so much more than choosing a major. It meant discovering a community that would shape her professional and personal life.
Currently, Hernandez serves as president and CEO of United Way of El Paso County, a nonprofit organization that has served the El Paso community for more than a century. Her path to leadership has included uncertainty and openness to explore different interests.
"I switched my major many times," Hernandez shares with a laugh. "I started in architecture, then civil engineering and even considered advertising before my dad finally told me, 'Stop fooling around and get into marketing.' Looking back, I'm glad he did because it gave me a business mindset that I still use every single day."
Originally from Ciudad Juárez, Hernandez spent a year away at college before returning to El Paso and enrolling at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, where she graduated in 2005 with bachelor's degrees in marketing and management. She talked about how returning to El Paso helped her gain clarity about her future and gave her a sense of belonging on campus.
"I came back because I wanted to ground myself and figure out what I wanted to do," she said. "But what I found at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ was community. I found people like me, and I finally felt like I belonged."
At what is now the Woody L. Hunt College of Business, Hernandez credits professors for giving her the tools and knowledge that have helped prepare her for her career. One course in particular, taught by Robin Grambling, challenged her and her peers to develop a complete advertising campaign from start to finish, teaching them teamwork, problem-solving and presentation skills.
"It was very hands-on," she said. "We worked on one project all semester, and by the end, we had learned not only how to build a campaign but also how to present our ideas."
After graduation, Hernandez landed a position at an El Paso advertising agency, where she spent 12 years building a career in media planning and strategy. During that time, she got to experience the rapid evolution of digital marketing.
"I was there when digital advertising was born," she said. "It was exciting because everything was changing. We were figuring things out as we went, and it really taught me how to think strategically."
Although she enjoyed her work in marketing, Hernandez found herself drawn toward community service. She began volunteering with local organizations, serving on nonprofit boards and looking for opportunities to give back.
"I remember thinking, 'I don't have a lot of money to give, but I have time,'" she said. "So I started volunteering, and one opportunity led to another."
Those volunteer experiences eventually opened the door to more leadership positions and helped launch and strengthen the GECU Foundation. Hernandez then joined United Way of El Paso County as Chief Operating Officer before being named president and CEO 10 months later.
Leading an organization that has served the Borderland for more than a century is a responsibility she doesn't take lightly.
"It's an honor and a privilege to support our community," Hernandez said. "We have the responsibility of being good stewards of people's donations and making sure we're creating long-term impact, not just temporary solutions."
One of Hernandez's greatest passions is strengthening the nonprofit community itself by connecting organizations with resources, professional development and partnerships. As she reflects on her journey, Hernandez says her proudest accomplishment isn't a title or professional milestone—it's the team she's helping build at United Way.
"I'm most proud of our staff," she said. "Seeing them grow, collaborate and become leaders themselves has been incredibly rewarding. I truly believe the people we're developing here can go on to lead other organizations someday."
Looking back, Hernandez sees the connection between being a student at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ and the leader she is today. The community she discovered as a Miner inspired a lifelong commitment to helping others find opportunity, connection and a place to belong.
"For me," Hernandez said, "it all started with finding community."