January 28, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

Luannee Hernandez ‘26 has spent her college years ensuring her peers feel welcomed, at home, and like they have a place to belong at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

The marketing major from Carteret, NJ, started out by serving as a tour guide during her first year as a Roadrunner. She spent two summers as an orientation leader, helping to acclimate new students to campus life. She also served as a Resident Assistant (RA), supporting a floor of students in honors and leadership programs and earning Ramapo’s RA of the Year recognition.

“I was able to pour into them, even as a second-year student, with all of the knowledge that I had gained over the past year,” Hernandez excitedly explained.

Her passion for creating communities where people feel included led Hernandez to serve as president of the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead (ALMA) where she launched a program to connect first and second-year students with upperclass mentors, vice president of the Women in Business club, and to on-campus jobs with Commuter Affairs.

She has spearheaded and advertised events to support the commuter experience, help commuters make friends, and become and stay connected to the Ramapo community. With about half of Ramapo’s students commuting, “It is really important for them to feel like they have something on campus that is for them,” she said.

Luannee Hernandez ’26 works for Commuter Affairs within the Center for Student Involvement at Ramapo College.

In November, that same passion for inclusion led the premier organization for student affairs professionals to recognize Hernandez with a prestigious award. For all of her efforts on campus, Hernandez earned the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award from the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Region VII.

Hernandez has won numerous leadership awards at Ramapo, but she said, earning an outside award from the greater higher education community hit differently. She was chosen from a pool of nominees from the vast region of about 50 active colleges and universities throughout New Jersey, Delaware, the District of Columbia, New York, Pennsylvania and Quebec. “It really showed that I have been able to sharpen my skills and build this muscle of leadership,” she said.

“Her ambitious leadership … and ability to create spaces where others feel valued make her a true changemaker. She continuously inspires her peers and professional staff through her drive, professionalism and heart for service,” Eddie Seavers, associate director of Ramapo’s Center for Student Involvement, said when he presented the award to Hernandez at the 2025 ACUI Region VII Conference.

Seavers, who supervises Hernandez in her Commuter Affairs role, nominated her for the award. “Luannee’s work and volunteer leadership roles have exemplified the core values of community, inclusion, learning, and innovation,” he wrote in his nomination letter.

Luannee Hernandez ’26, center, serves as president of ALMA, where she spearheaded a mentorship program for Roadrunners.

On her own volition, Hernandez also applied and was accepted to present at the conference. She shared her presentation, FOMO to Full House: Social Media Strategies for Campus Events, with student affairs staff from various colleges. Her presentation focused on “applying strategies for creating authentic, relatable content that builds anticipation and engagement with students,” she explained.

For Hernandez, winning the award, presenting, and networking at the conference, cemented her decision to apply to graduate school and pursue student affairs as a career – something she was not sure about until recently.

She said she realized she may want to pursue student affairs as a career when she asked herself, “What’s my purpose? What do I really want out of a career?”

One theme held true: “I really love working with people and students specifically,” she said.

“I always liked to help others. I always cared for others,” she said. “But I had to find my way of how I would do that.” With her background as a business major, and her event planning and social media management skills, Hernandez feels like she will be able “to support any projects or goals that an institution might have.”

Luannee Hernandez ’26, left, speaks with potential new members of ALMA during Ramapo College’s involvement fair.

Seavers knows Hernandez’s future is bright, and that she will continue to create inclusive environments, and impact others, wherever she goes.

“The undergrads, wherever she is working, are going to be motivated by her. That is what it takes in student affairs, is people who motivate others,” Seavers said.