A Conversation With...
Dr. John Fernandez

Q: Where did you grow up and how did you get here, (A&M-CC)?

A: I am one of seven children, homegrown in Corpus Christi. I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I went to school at Corpus Christi Academy where I graduated as valedictorian of my high school class. My dad owned his own business and worked long hours. I learned to work hard by watching him. After high school I attended Seminary for one semester. I registered at Del Mar College because of limited financial resources. After attending the University of Texas for one semester and nearly starving, I transferred to Texas A&M University – Kingsville where I received my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. Because of the Viet Nam Conflict, I joined the Air Force and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. While serving in the Air Force, I received a Master of Science degree in Engineering from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in computer science from Texas A&M University at College Station. After my second tour in the Pentagon, I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and moved to San Antonio to open an office for a Washington, D.C. based firm. After three years I was enticed by a San Antonio enterprise to join their computer and engineering consulting business where I became the CEO. After 10 years in the consulting business, my wife and I decided to move closer to our daughter in Bryan where I taught for a community college for three semesters. Because of typical elderly problems with my mother and my mother-in-law, we moved back to Corpus Christi whereupon I contacted A&M-CC to become a part of this great institution. I am very grateful to Dean Marinez and Dr. Steidley for the position I hold.
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Q: What motivates you and has helped you become who you are today?

A: My wife and family are my strongest motivators, followed by a strong belief in God. Having grown up in a socio-economically disadvantaged Hispanic family with a strong work ethic, I am convinced that anyone can succeed in life. All that is required is a solid education and dedication to working hard.

Q: What makes you passionate about your field and teaching students?

A: Since a college education is foundational to your success, it makes a great deal of common sense to purse a subject that will provide opportunities for good pay and further learning. I believe that Computer Science is the ideal field. Besides providing good paying positions, computer science is a service field. Computer science doesn’t exist for its own sake; it exists to be of service to other professions. I try to make students understand that if they don’t want to serve others, computer science is not the right field for them. I’m all about helping students gain the capabilities they need to help others solve everyday problems. I’m an evangelist for addressing human problems with computing solutions.

Q: What course(s) are your favorite to teach?

A: My favorite courses to teach are Human Computer Interaction and Software Engineering. These courses are all about working with others to determine what is needed to solve a problem or enhance existing capabilities to support ongoing operations. HCI is uniquely focused on studying the user to understand his or her mental view of the situation to determine what the user needs and to build a system that is perfectly suited for the environment. Software engineering is traditionally focused on very large systems that require many people resources and million of dollars to build.

Q: What co-curricular activities are you involved in, and how can students become involved with you in those activities?

A: I am the advisor for Computer Science Club and work to help the officers and members have a successful club. I am also the coordinator for NSF – National Science Foundation Scholarship Program which awards scholarships of over $1000 per semester. Students need to be U.S. citizens, have a 2.6 GPA and be a declared major in Computer Science, Math, or Engineering Technology. I am also a CO-PI, one of the principal investigators, for another NSF grant. My role here is to lead a recruiting effort to have our students visit high schools to talk about their own experiences and to try to entice high school students to become computer science majors.

Q: Outside of TAMUCC, what extracurricular activities are you involved in; what do you do for fun?

A: I normally work seven days a week so outside activities are rather limited. During a regular semester, I am here 10 to 12 hours every day. When possible, I like to visit my son and daughter who are both Aggies who married Aggies and now all have Aggie children. My son and his family live in Fort Worth, Texas. He has given me two beautiful granddaughters. My daughter and her family live in Virginia. She has given me one beautiful granddaughter and two handsome grandsons.

Q: Who inspired you the most or had the greatest impact during your collegiate experience which directed you to your field of study?

A: During my collegiate experiences, I was inspired by faculty members who had a passion for their profession. My interest in solving problems using logic and common sense directed me to the field of computer science.

Q: What is your greatest achievement and whom do you attribute this to?

A: I have achieved many goals in my life, but maybe my greatest achievement is “graduating” from the barrio and becoming a Professor at A&M-CC. My successes come from a work ethic which I attribute to my father who worked seven days a week in his business. On Sundays he would go to church, but then he would open the grocery store.

Q: What question does the study of Computer Science attempt to answer?

A: The question of how to solve everyday problems.

Q: Wouldn’t be caught dead wearing?

A: Longhorn colors.