José Hernández on Apr 29, 2025 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

Registration for this event is currently full, however there will be a standby line in case of no-shows.

“I’m not here to tell people how great I am. I’m here to share my story, to say, you’re no different than I am. I was able to do it, this is how I did it.” – José Hernández

Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, José Hernández spent his childhood moving from field to field, dreaming of space. He didn’t speak English until he was 12, yet through resilience and dedication, he defied the odds – becoming an engineer, an astronaut and the first Mexican-American to travel to space. Determined to fulfill his dream, Hernández never gave up, ultimately serving as a flight engineer aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Join us for an inspiring evening as UC Santa Barbara alum and UC Regent José Hernández shares his extraordinary journey from the fields to the stars, proving that perseverance can turn dreams into reality.

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A Million Miles Away, Apr 23