Belen Hernandez is the program coordinator for the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE). In this role, she leads programs and initiatives of various levels of scope, duration, and complexity that are sponsored, hosted, and/or affiliated with the NIAE.

Before working for NIAE, she was a GoToCollege Ambassador for three years under the College Access Challenge Grant Program, where she aimed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. She accomplished this by working with NSHE institutions, CCSD, and local organizations and providing presentations, community and social media outreach, and support for all local higher education initiatives.

Belen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from UNLV' s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.