Bryan Sorto Hernández is committed to educational equity and making a lasting impact on the lives of people in minoritized communities.
Sorto Hernández, a senior in the UNC School of Education’s Human and Organizational Leadership Development (HOLD) program, and a double minor in public policy & Spanish for the legal professions, spent this summer as a fellow in the Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI), a program curated by the Atlanta-based Southern Education Foundation that places graduate and undergraduate students at nonprofits and governmental agencies across the South to advance racial and educational equity.
Through SELI, Sorto Hernández interned with Every Texan, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit advocating for public policies that promote equity and opportunity for all Texans through health care, education, economic security, and more. Sorto Hernández said one highlight of his internship was developing a fact sheet highlighting the importance of educating all students, regardless of their documentation status.
As part of this project, Sorto Hernández researched and analyzed the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe., a landmark case that ruled states cannot deny free public education to children based on their immigration status.
“I had the opportunity to conduct research and build coalitions both within the organization and beyond,” Sorto Hernández said. “I also got to experience what it means to be at the forefront of Southern education, confronting the systemic issues that persist today.
“It deepened my understanding of how those of us passionate about educational and racial equity can drive change, making quality education more accessible and equitable for everyone.”
During the fellowship, Sorto Hernández sharpened his research and data analysis skills, building on skills he has developed in the HOLD program. These skills were instrumental in supporting his internship project and discovering a career path that would enable him to learn how to put education policy into practice.
“The HOLD program has effectively supported students in exploring different career paths within the education sector, while also ensuring that we understand and can apply theoretical frameworks in our future careers,” Sorto-Hernandez said.
Growing as a leader
Within the HOLD program, Sorto Hernández has acquired a variety of skills that he applied to his fellowship this summer. These skills, informed by insights from various courses, focused on his aspiration to advance education systems through equitable policies.
For example, in EDUC 309: “Foundations of Leadership,” Sorto –Hernández explored various leadership frameworks, which have helped transform his view of leadership as something not limited to those in power but accessible to anyone. Sorto-Hernandez also noted that EDUC 508: “Equity, Leadership, and You,” which emphasized authentic leadership and self-care, taught him the importance of being present and ensuring one’s voice is heard while recognizing that self-care is essential for effective leadership.
Sorto Hernández credits both courses with shaping his approach to education, leadership, and his commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of people around him.
“These classes expanded my understanding of leadership,” Sorto Hernández said. “I realized that leadership can be found in anyone — whether within a family, a friend group, or even in the role of a follower. It opened my mind to the idea that leadership is about influence, motivation, and the impact we have on others.”
During the final days of his fellowship, Sorto Hernández presented his research findings and was honored with the Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award, a recognition presented to a fellow in each cohort who exemplified the principles of servant leadership.
The award included a monetary component and a donation to an organization of his choice. Sorto Hernández chose to support LatinxEd, a North Carolina-based nonprofit dedicated to uplifting and fostering leadership for Latinx students and immigrant families.
“Being introduced to servant leadership has been incredibly impactful, and this fellowship, along with my experiences over the summer, really highlighted that,” Sorto Hernández said. “I’ve learned so much and now see how I can apply these principles in both my personal and professional life.”
Beyond his academic work, Sorto Hernández is involved in several organizations this semester, including serving as a senior advisor for Mi Pueblo, where he was previously co-president and political action committee co-chair. He is also the social media chair for Latinx in Law, a newly established on-campus organization he co-founded, which aims to support Latinx students in exploring diverse careers in the legal field, highlighting opportunities in policy, technology, nonprofits, and more.
This academic year, Sorto Hernández will also work on a senior honors thesis under the guidance of faculty member Constance Lindsay, Ph.D., focusing on the topic of undocumented students’ access to quality and equitable education from K-12 and exploring how policies affect the attainability and accessibility of both public and higher education for undocumented students.
“As I enter my final year at the UNC School of Education, it feels surreal to reflect on how far I’ve come,” Sorto Hernández said. “I’m eager to make a lasting impact on my community and to continue building my legacy at the university.”
