Dr. Raul Fernandez (Ind)

Dr. Raul Fernandez is a Lecturer and former Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development where he studies, writes, and teaches about inequities in education. He is also an appointee to the Racial Imbalance Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and was recently named a Public Impact Scholar by the Initiative on Cities.

In the last few years alone, he researched and wrote a piece that helped topple a monument to white supremacy, held accountable a venerable but misguided institution, created a film and conversation series that engaged thousands of participants in challenging dialogues on social justice issues, and trained thousands more in developing equitable policies and practices at institutions throughout the country and beyond. 

Dr. Fernandez is also a member of Brookline Select Board – the first Latinx person elected to that position. He currently serves as vice chair of the Board as well as chair of Brookline’s Small Business Development Committee, which he founded. He also led the successful efforts to create a working group designed to better support the Brookline Housing Authority and its residents, a Racial Equity Advancement Fund, and a task force focused on reimagining public safety. 

Dr. Fernandez regularly consults with organizations on issues of equity and inclusion and leads workshops which challenge participants to examine their background, beliefs, and biases while moving urgently to address social justice issues by making changes to policy and practice. He’s facilitated workshops for teachers and academics, doctors and nurses, lawyers and social workers, business and nonprofit leaders, artists and librarians, students and seniors, and more.