Family Matters

For one Bentley family, the road to 175 Forest Street spans two hemispheres. It originated in Puerto Rico, when a young Jose Hernandez ’87, P ’18, ’19 discovered the school at his local college fair. The next stop was Japan, where he serves as president and CEO of AIG Asia Pacific in Tokyo — and David ’18 and Alexandra ’19 grew up with stories of their dad’s days in blue and gold.
 

Is it difficult for family members to be half a world away?

Jose: I don’t think we’ll get used to it, but we’re learning to deal with it. Phone, text, Facebook, Snapchat, Facetime, Instagram – we do it all.

David: My mom [Christine Elliott P ’18, ’19] texts me every day and, if I don’t answer, I’ll get an influx of messages asking if I’m OK.

Alexandra: My dad travels a lot to the U.S., so my parents visit more often than you might expect. [Jose logs an annual 300,000 business miles.]
 

Travel and living abroad were a large part of your childhood, David and Alexandra. How has that influenced you?

Alexandra: I appreciate so many different cultures. I’m planning to minor in Japanese and after college would love to work in Hong Kong, Taipei and London.

David: I’ve learned how to live where no one speaks the same language as you and the culture is completely different. I actually consider my time at Bentley as studying abroad.

Jose, has Bentley changed since your graduation in 1987?

Jose: Let’s face it, a lot has changed everywhere in the past 28 years! The school is much bigger and has evolved. I get the sense that the academic schedule and curriculum is tougher, too.
 

Were there expectations that David and Alexandra would attend Bentley?

Jose: No, my wife and I were very open about their school choices. Both of my kids actually visited Bentley for the first time without me.

David: They never pressured us into picking a particular school. I chose Bentley because of the business culture, networking opportunities, and competitive athletics.

Alexandra: My parents just wanted us to be happy. It was a coincidence that Bentley was a fit for me.
 

Has anything about Bentley surprised you?

David: I was surprised by how much the teachers are involved with students. They engage us in conversation and are always available for extra help.

Alexandra: How friendly the community is! Everyone is helpful and welcoming; it’s definitely made the transition easier.