The Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization, presented annually by the Office of Global Engagement, honors full-time faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to global education at the University of Georgia.
Sonia Hernandez is the 2025 honoree of the Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
Sonia Hernandez
Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Department of Population Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Sonia Hernandez comprehends the significance of global educational experiences.
“My field — the convergence of One Health and conservation — necessitates a worldwide viewpoint,” she stated. “I aspire for my students to have the same opportunities — overseas experiences that enable them to enhance personally, refine problem-solving abilities in unforeseen circumstances, and acquire insights into the subtleties of conservation and One Health.”
In order to assist her students in expanding their viewpoints, she motivates them to cultivate cultural sensitivity, imparts robust ethical standards for conducting research and engaging in international work that emphasizes collaboration with local communities and experts, and nurtures environments where they can hone essential soft skills such as teamwork and adaptability.
Hernandez is a qualified wildlife veterinarian and holds a joint position in the population health department at the College of Veterinary Medicine. She established a course in conservation medicine and biology — the first and only regularly scheduled course of its kind in the nation. This monthlong study abroad program facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation among undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students, relying heavily on experiential learning with daily lectures to complement the activities.
Furthermore, Hernandez collaborates with the Odum School of Ecology on various international initiatives, such as the Tropical Ecology Maymester and a field ornithology course that is part of the school’s Tropical Ecology Fall Semester Abroad Program.
“Dr. Hernandez cultivates inquisitiveness, critical analysis, creativity, and initiative in her students by pushing us to engage with tangible challenges and empowering us to formulate comprehensive solutions,” one former student shared.
In 2021, Hernandez represented UGA at the University of Complutense (UCM) in Madrid, Spain, as a Fulbright Scholar, where she delivered multiple lectures for both graduate and undergraduate zoology students. Consequently, she established opportunities for UGA students to pursue studies in Spain and for UCM students to enroll at the University of Georgia.
“This fusion of scholarship and teaching evidently inspires students and motivates them to reach new heights that they may never have imagined before engaging with Dr. Hernandez,” one colleague remarked.
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