Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Alan Fernandes
Alan Fernandes came to Davis in 1993 to attend the University of California, Davis (UCD) as an undergraduate. While at UCD, Alan met his wife, Lia, a ‘Davis girl’ who attended Davis public schools from preschool through college.
They graduated from UCD in 1997, but Lia still sometimes jokes that Alan is new to the community. After college, Alan earned his law degree and worked as an attorney and policy advocate specializing in the legislative process and governmental affairs. Today, Alan is the Executive of a non-profit corporation relating to finance and local government.
Throughout his over twenty years in Davis, Alan has devoted himself to community service. Highlights of his work in Davis schools include:
DJUSD School Board Trustee
Birch Lane Elementary School Site Council
Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Special Education
Classroom volunteer
Alan has a broad range of professional work experience having worked in both the private and public sector. He has published on effective government advocacy including a Law Review Article on the topic of Ethics in Government and is occasionally requested to speak publicly on these topics. In addition, Alan has served as a pro-bono attorney on multiple occasions, particularly in capacities representing parents or organizations interacting with public schools.
He is proud to have been elected and to serve on the Davis School Board.