Aidé Hernandez

Aidé specializes in supporting F-1 international students, offering comprehensive advising services and documentation assistance to the international community at Columbia’s medical campus. She has over 10 years of experience in education, with five of those years focused specifically on international education.

Before joining Columbia, Aidé worked as an International Student Advisor at ArtCenter College of Design in California, where she primarily supported F-1 students in arts and design programs. In this role, she provided guidance on visa and immigration matters, organized workshops, and helped students navigate the complexities of studying in the U.S. Before transitioning into F-1 advising at ArtCenter, she spent four years teaching in Spain, where she introduced students to American culture and the English language. Aidé earned her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from UC Irvine and a Master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College.

Her favorite part of working with international students is building genuine relationships and helping them feel at home during such an important chapter of their lives. Having personally experienced studying and living abroad in Argentina and Spain, she remembers the excitement—but also the uncertainty—that comes with adjusting to a new culture and education system. That experience has deeply shaped how she approaches her role. Aidé strives to be someone students can trust and rely on, whether it's patiently guiding them through complex immigration procedures, helping them access campus resources, or simply offering encouragement and understanding when they're feeling overwhelmed. Seeing students become comfortable, confident, and successful in their new environment is incredibly rewarding and motivates Aidé every day. 

In her free time, Aidé enjoys traveling, visiting museums, photography, cooking, exploring cafes and restaurants, and going on walks. She has traveled to more than 30 countries across four continents, and each trip has given her a deeper appreciation for different cultures, languages, and ways of life.