Tony Hernandez

Tony Hernandez, MSW, is an affiliate professor in the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include housing and community, and economic development. He currently teaches graduate courses that include Social Policy Analysis, Advanced Integrative Practice: Clinical, and Advanced Policy and Advocacy.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Hernandez worked on a presidential appointment as an administrator of Rural Housing Services for the United States Department of Agriculture. He was also the director of the Division of Local Government for the State of Colorado. Hernandez served five terms as a Colorado state representative. He is currently the president and CEO of Innovative Action Consulting on the Community, Housing and Economic Development team, where he provides consulting services in policy work, nonprofit training and more.

Hernandez has been recognized for his extensive community involvement and advocacy work. He has won the Excellence in Leadership Award from Rural Housing Services, the Housing and Urban Development Secretary’s Leadership Award, the HUD Secretary’s Customer Service Award and the Good Guys Award from the Colorado Women’s Political Caucus for his commitment to political, economic and judicial equality for women, among many others.

Hernandez received a master’s in Management and Public Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University Pittsburgh in 1981, a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver in 1975 and a bachelor’s in Social Work from Colorado State University in 1973. He is also a certified Housing Development Finance Professional, granted by the National Development Council in 2003.