Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – Dirce Hernandez, a cybersecurity expert and adjunct faculty member at South Texas College recently contributed on a national platform highlighting an urgent need for colleges to balance Artificial Intelligence (AI) with what he calls the proper guardrails regulating its use.
This summer Hernandez’s article, “Bridging AI Innovation with AI Governance,” appeared in Higher Ed Risk Magazine, a national publication dedicated to news and trends shaping threats to higher education.
The takeaway, according to Hernandez, is that while higher education institutions are at a crossroads for innovation and accountability, STC, especially is taking a leadership role by embracing AI responsibly while taking steps to protect data, curb bias and build trust.
“I think STC is definitely ahead of the curve. Other schools I’ve worked with talk about going all in with AI, but I haven’t seen the tangible steps that STC is already taking,” Hernandez said. “Now that I’m here, I see real potential for growth.”
Hernandez currently serves as an adjunct faculty member within STC’s Cybersecurity program and works closely with college leadership on advancing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence initiatives.
As an expert in the area of artificial intelligence governance, Hernandez has also been contributing to STC’s decentralized approach to AI adoption in a taskforce led by Jesus Campos, Ed.D. interim vice president for Technology, Information and Planning Services (TIPS) and Christoper Nelson, Ph.D., dean of STC Liberal Arts, serving as a central point to guide AI across all programs at the college.
Participating in AI governance meetings at STC as well as supporting efforts to institute what he calls institutional guardrails for responsible AI use, Hernandez said he uses his platform to advocate for stronger policies, formal charters and risk assessments that will strengthen STC’s leadership in the field.
“Being part of STC’s AI governance meetings has been encouraging. It shows the college is serious about creating responsible guardrails for AI,” Hernandez said. “I think it’s a good start and heading in the right direction.”
Hernandez is a cybersecurity professional with more than 17 years of experience in the fields of information security, risk management, IT audit and cybersecurity research.
Over the course of his career, Hernandez has worked in multiple industries including Texas state government, higher education, healthcare and financial services.
He is also currently a senior manager in Cybersecurity Risk Management for a healthcare Fortune 6 company and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and E-Commerce as well as a master’s degree in Information Assurance Management from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Based in San Antonio, Hernandez said he still maintains close ties to the Rio Grande Valley and remains committed to supporting STC’s growth.
As the college further integrates AI into its programs, Hernandez said he sees STC leading the way for groundbreaking opportunities for Valley students to gain cutting-edge skills in one of the fastest-growing fields. “If you don’t get on board with AI, you’re going to be left behind. That’s true not just in IT or cybersecurity, but in marketing, human resources, manufacturing and every other sector,” Hernandez said. “AI is already becoming a minimum requirement in job descriptions. Students who ignore it will struggle to compete in the job market. The students who use AI to enhance their skills and make themselves more efficient will be attractive to employers.”
