Hendel Cerphy is a scholar, political scientist, and higher education professional whose life's work sits at the intersection of knowledge, civic duty, and human empowerment. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Minor in Pre-Law, and a Master of Arts in Political Science, and currently pursuing his doctorate, he brings both the science of the human mind and the architecture (or philosophy) of political systems to everything he does—a rare and powerful combination that shapes how he teaches, leads, and inspires. With 14 years of dedicated teaching and academic work, Cerphy has built a career defined not merely by credentials but by conviction. He believes deeply and passionately that democracy is not a given.
It is earned, protected, and sustained by informed, engaged citizens. That belief drives him into the classroom every day, where he teaches American Government, State and Local Government, and International Relations with the urgency of someone who understands what is at stake when civic knowledge fades and democratic participation declines. History, politics, and democracy are not just professional interests for Cerphy; they are a calling. He has spent his career studying the forces that shape societies, the institutions that hold power, and the moments in history where ordinary people changed the course of nations.
He carries that reverence for politics into every lecture, every conversation, and every opportunity to light the fire of civic curiosity in a student who may not yet know they care. Beyond the classroom, Cerphy has proven himself to be a community builder and cultural champion. As advisor to the Kiskeya Club, he has created space for students to honor their heritage with pride while enriching the broader campus community. He has organized and facilitated speaking engagements that brought diverse political and civic voices to campus, transforming passive audiences into active participants in democratic dialogue.
Through service on committees addressing academic integrity, international study abroad, and Model United Nations student selection, he has shaped institutional standards, opened global learning pathways, and invested in the next generation of student leaders. That pursuit of excellence does not stop at the podium. Cerphy himself is a student, currently enrolled in doctoral studies, modeling for his students the very truth he teaches: that learning is not a destination but a lifelong discipline. In choosing to continue his own academic journey while shaping the minds of others, he embodies the scholar-practitioner ideal at its finest.
Hendel Cerphy does not simply teach political science; he lives it. He is a man moved by history and committed to the promise of democracy, who has chosen education as his instrument for change. His greatest ambition is not academic recognition but something far more enduring: a generation of students who think critically, engage fearlessly, and show up fully and faithfully for the democratic society that needs them.