“CSUDH’s effortless process to accept me into college, ultimately changed the trajectory for my career and I couldn’t be happier,” Hernandez said.
Take a minute and just think about all the things here at CSUDH. Chairs, computers, office supplies and equipment, paper goods – everyday items need to be researched, negotiated, purchased and managed to keep the operations on campus running smoothly. Managing all these things is a task that most Toros probably don’t spend too much of their time thinking about – these items are just there.
But how? That question is best answered by Maria Hernandez, CSUDH’s Director of procurement and Contracts.
Before any of the goods and services used daily by the students, faculty, and staff at Dominguez Hills even make it to campus, they are signed off on by Hernandez, a Toro alumna whose office is located on the fourth floor of Welch Hall. She’s not only responsible for overseeing all the purchases for the campus, but also managing relationships with vendors and leasing university facilities for external meetings and events. Hernandez’s office also manages the construction of contracts and student placement agreements.
Growing up in South LA, Hernandez aspired to be the first person in her family to graduate college. Although she wasn’t entirely sure what her path to a degree would be, her counselors at John C. Fremont High School helped to guide her along the way.
During her senior year, Hernandez got accepted to Mount St. Mary’s University – a private, all-women’s college in Los Angeles, where she also received a partial scholarship. Unfortunately, due to financial factors, Hernandez was not able to retain admission. Hernandez’s now-husband, who attended CSUDH at the time, helped her with the application and she was soon accepted as a Toro.
“My counselors provided a crucial pathway for my future,” Hernandez said. “Without their guidance and dedication, I am certain my life would have taken a different turn, and I am forever grateful they helped secure my career here at Dominguez Hills.”
As a Toro, Hernandez worked as a student assistant in the receiving department, where she learned the ins and outs of the university’s supply chain pipeline. Her hard work at the receiving warehouse paid off because the director who oversaw both the warehouse and procurement departments, offered her a student assistant position within the Procurement and Contracts office.
Hernandez described the move as a “turning point” in her career journey at Dominguez Hills because it gave her more flexibility and room to grow her skills.
“It led to me having the opportunities to work my way through every position in the Procurement and Contracts office,” Hernandez recalled. “After graduation, I was offered a full-time job and I worked there for eight years while starting my journey in obtaining my master’s degree.” She earned her master’s in public administration from CSU-Long Beach in 2017.
Hernandez worked at CSUDH until 2013 before moving on to the Contracts and Procurement office at the California State University Chancellor’s Office, where she remained for five years. Her time away from Dominguez Hills wouldn’t be long, however, as the Procurement and Contracts office asked her to come back to the department in 2018. According to her colleagues, Hernandez leads by example and prioritizes self-care in the office.
“We want the students to feel welcomed on campus and Maria guides us to what we need to do and is there for support if we need it in making that possible,” said Kenny Ventura, a Buyer II.
Bacilisa Baltazar, a procurement analyst, echoed that sentiment, lauding the atmosphere in the office.
“Maria couldn’t have been any more welcoming to me here at the office,” Baltazar said. “She welcomed me with a breakfast and introduction to the entire team and she made a positive path here for me.
“Maria is such a superstar, and I have learned so much from her,” said Mackenzie Ordonez, a student assistant in the Procurement and Contracts office who served as The Bulletin’s art director in Fall 2023. “She really has taught me a lot and I feel I can always go to her when I need help with assisting our campus.”
Hernandez’s journey at Dominguez Hills was fortuitous professionally and personally. She met her future husband while she was working as a barista at CSUDH in high school, and then officially got to know him while working as a student assistant when she entered CSUDH.
Some people may have difficulty maintaining a passion for themselves after nearly two decades, but Hernandez isn’t one of them. There’s always more to learn and more to do to benefit the Dominguez Hills campus community.
“I’ve been part of this campus for over 13 years and it’s become clear to me that my purpose was to be here,” Hernandez said. “I love to support the campus, and I feel a sense of accomplishment working at DH. It allows our department to contribute to an institution that is dedicated to fostering education and making a positive impact on the lives of students.”
