Santiago Hernandez Jr. is a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a B.A. in Government and Race, Indigeneity, & Migration, with a minor in Sociology and a certificate in Public Policy. 

Born and raised in San Antonio, he is a proud product of SAISD. He is currently a cohort fellow with Leadership SAISD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing, empowering, and inspiring the San Antonio community to advance transformative public education opportunities for all students. 

Santiago previously served as a Legislative Intern in the Texas State Capitol with the Office of Senator César Blanco. 

Santiago aspires to run for public office to advance policies centered on the needs of our communities and aimed at helping build a more just and equitable future.

Before becoming model Secretary of State, Santiago served a term in the model Texas House of Representatives where he represented parts of San Antonio.