Domingo (“Derek”) Hernandez-Martinez ’23 came to William Peace University with one clear goal: to run for the cross country team. But running would turn out to be only the beginning of his path at Peace – a path that saw him grow as a dedicated researcher and discover a passion for education that would shape his future.
He graduated from high school in 2020, when the worldwide shutdown made community building immensely difficult. Peace offered him space to reconnect with peers and thought-leaders while still participating in the sport he enjoyed.
“One of the head coaches at the time had scouted me and offered me a spot on the cross country team at Peace,” he said. “And I thought, why not? My whole track and field season got canceled in my senior year [of high school]. So I went to Peace because I was able to continue running – something I missed out on because of the pandemic.”
Hernandez-Martinez came to campus unsure of his future beyond athletics. He craved the space to explore and define his own path, and Peace, with its intentionally small community and expert faculty, offered just that.
“Coming in, I didn’t have a specific goal career-wise, but I knew I wanted to gain some experience and get my feet off the ground,” he said. “Even though many people told me I was very good with mathematics and STEM, it wasn’t something that I actually wanted to pursue. I used my time at Peace to see what I actually wanted to do and where that would lead me.”
That curiosity led him deeper into academics, where he developed skills as both a researcher and a mentor.
Finding Passion In Research
It was in the psychology program where Hernandez-Martinez found topics that piqued his interest. Working under the mentorship of Jennifer Blush, associate professor of psychology, he discovered how much research fascinated him. Together, they launched a study investigating change blindness, a psychological phenomenon that explores how people notice (or fail to notice) small shifts in their everyday environment.
“He was one of the first students that I got to work with in the lab for more than one semester,” Blush said. “I was starting a brand new project with him, which is a lot to take on. We learned the software together and programmed the experiment together, and that was a really cool experience.”
Over three semesters, Hernandez-Martinez worked diligently to ensure the project’s success. He managed data collection and documentation across various platforms, fully immersing himself in the research process. Most notably, he remained committed to the project’s success even after his time at Peace ended.
“Before he left, I asked him to write out some instructions for data collection,” Blush said. “He made a 20-page document with screenshots of how to collect data and how the program works. He was my grad student; that’s essentially the level of work that he was doing.”
In the psychology lab, Hernandez-Martinez had transformed from an uncertain student into a dedicated researcher. The experience clarified the career goals he’d been seeking and sparked a curiosity to pursue further education.
“Dr. Blush helped me see what I wanted to do,” he said. “When I found out that research was actually quite interesting, she helped me see that I can choose specific topics that I enjoy. The research experience gave me a clear idea of what I wanted to do and what steps I would need to achieve that.”
Teaching Abroad
After graduating in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Hernandez-Martinez faced further uncertainty. He knew he wanted to teach, but he wasn’t sure where to start. That’s when he discovered an opportunity to teach English abroad in China.
“In my head, when I found this opportunity, I thought I had nothing to lose,” he said. “I could teach to get that experience, but also travel a bit because I like to travel. Now, I feel very connected to my students, and I’ve gotten to travel all around the world.”
What started as a spur-of-the-moment decision has grown into a genuine passion that’s helped ground him during times of uncertainty. Now, he’s entering his third year of teaching in China, continuing to build experience while seeking higher-level teaching opportunities.
“I want to get as much experience in various roles while I still have the opportunity to do so,” he said. “I don’t want to be complacent – I want to move up in my job, and that will require time.”
Looking back, both his research and his work in the classroom taught Hernandez-Martinez that meaningful work comes from genuine curiosity and passion. Peace gave him permission to explore and helped him discover that his greatest strength was connecting with people, whether through research or teaching. As he continues building his experience abroad, he carries those lessons with him: think critically, seek ambitious opportunities, and never stop growing.
