Brenda Hernandez

Brenda Hernandez is a Mexican-American designer, born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She is a Master of Architecture student ‘25 interested in the intersection between design and policy. Her work, both in studio and professional settings, addresses issues such as affordable housing, health and the built environment, and exploring the possibilities design offers to promote equity.

Before attending MIT, Brenda earned her B.A. in Architecture and Urbanism with a minor in Landscape Studies from Smith College. Her interdisciplinary education brought diverse perspectives to her design work, integrating fields such as poetry, astronomy, biology, philosophy, and music.

In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Brenda is an advocate for diversity in design education, actively mentoring underrepresented students through involvement in organizations like MIT MITES, in//border, and Shift+W to promote inclusive practices within STEAM fields.