[1] She completed an internship in dietetics at Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Allied Health Professions in 1977.
with a health sciences curriculum specialization from University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP) in 1999.
[1] Her early academic work was centered in the School of Domestic Economy, where she taught in the area of food and nutrition.
[1] In addition to her academic duties, Fernández Hernández provided advisory services in nutrition for the Department of Health of Puerto Rico during the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games.
[1] She resumed her duties in December 1999, also holding the title of full professor at the School of Family Ecology and Nutrition within the Faculty of Education.
[3] Her appointment came during a period of intense financial challenges for the university system, which was facing significant budget cuts as part of broader austerity measures aimed at addressing Puerto Rican government-debt crisis.
[3] During her tenure, a student strike protesting the proposed cuts shut down the university's campuses, with demonstrators blocking access.
[3] Fernández Hernández faced legal pressure to resolve the situation, including a judge's threat of arrest if the university did not reopen by May 11.
[3] The university remained closed for some time after her departure, and multiple campuses were placed on probation due to the disruptions caused by the strike.