Alejandra Hernández
alejandra@hotwheelsandhighheels.com
Case
Alejandra Hernández is a queer Chicanx poet and editor at Hot Wheels and High Heels. Their work is published or forthcoming in Mantis, Azahares, Zone 3, and Jet Fuel Review. They are the Productions Editor for Poetry International Online and lead the poetry club at Morse High School in San Diego.
Study
Master of Fine Arts in Poetry
San Diego State University — San Diego, CA
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing (Non-Fiction Emphasis)
University of California, Riverside — Riverside, CA
Graduated: 2018
Practice
Publications Editor
Poetry International Online – San Diego, CA
Spring 2024 – Present
The role of publications editor at Poetry International oversees about 10-15 interns who are working on design, web coding, online publication, reader/subscription correspondence, selling & distribution, & archives.
Poetry Club Advisor
IMIN Program, Morse High School – San Diego, CA
Fall 2023 – Present
For this project, I returned to my alma-mater with a proposal to start a vigorous poetry club that not only emphasized expression but also technique, form, and performance.
Report Writer
The SAGE Project – San Diego, CA
Summer 2023
Partnering with the San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, my team and I interviewed several residents of Southeast San Diego to determine sustainability education and needs in the community.
Submissions Reader
Poetry International Online – San Diego, CA
Summer 2022 – Spring 2023
Reviewing submissions to be considered and flagging them for the next set of readers
Director’s Assistant
MFA Program, San Diego State University – San Diego, CA
Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
Responsible for curating the weekly student newsletter that kept students up to date on submission and job opportunities as well as events on campus. Showcasing achievements by students and alumni. The MFA resource center and Graduate Reading were also among these responsibilities.
Execution
Editor & Founder
Hot Wheels & High Heels – San Diego, CA
Poetry Club Coordinator
Poetry Club at Morse High School – San Diego, CA
Fall 2023 – Present
Publications
“The day I realized we were gods —,” Jet Fuel Review
“From way down here,” Zone 3
“Those Them Series,” “Mexican-American,” and “Quinceañera,” Azahares
“Blue Dream,” Mantis Literary Journal
Performances
2024 — Featured Reader, The Template, San Diego, CA
Performed “Drummer Boy,” “Joy” by Langston Hughes, “A girl in my DM’s,” “Otro Atardecer”
Featured Reader, San Diego Writers Ink, San Diego, CA
Performed selections from “Untitled,” poems about singing
2022 — Featured Reader, The Hamlet, San Diego, CA
Performed “Move”
Open Mic, Poetry Underground Series, San Diego, CA
Performed “Tide,” “Pickup,” “Oh, that falsetto”
Featured Reader, Poetry Salons hosted by Luis Torres, San Diego, CA
2015–2008 — Participant, Creative Write-a-Thon, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA
2014 — Featured Reader, Student Literary Showcase, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA
Read “La Curandera”
2010 — Ensemble Cast, Wizard of Oz, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Lemon Grove, CA
2009 — Ensemble Cast, Cinderella, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Lemon Grove, CA
Performer, Bilingual Talent Show, St. John of the Cross, Lemon Grove, CA
Sang “Ayer te Pedí” by Víctor García
2008 — Role of Roger, Grease, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Lemon Grove, CA
Performer, House of Blues, San Diego, CA.
“Brighter than Sunshine”
Performer, Café Zoma, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
“Like a Star” by Corinne Bailey Rae
Ladies in Harmony Choir (Alto), Chula Vista High School, Chula Vista, CA
Year-end performance at Chula Vista Senior Center
2007 — Ensemble Cast, Godspell, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Lemon Grove, CA
Ladies in Harmony Choir (Alto), Chula Vista High School, Chula Vista, CA
Morse High School Choir (Alto), Winter and End-of-Year Performances, San Diego, CA
2006 — Morse High School Choir (Alto), Winter and End-of-Year Performances, San Diego, CA
2005 — Morse High School Choir (Alto), Winter and End-of-Year Performances, San Diego, CA