Shrita Hernandez is a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute whose work focuses on institutional credibility, brand trust, reputation, organizational resilience, and how mission-driven institutions adapt amid technological, political, and funding disruption. She previously served as Urban's chief communications officer and vice president for strategic communications and outreach, advising senior leaders on enterprise positioning, reputational risk, brand strategy, and communications governance.

Before joining Urban, Hernandez served as chief public affairs and communications officer at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and vice president for communications and marketing at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Her career also includes senior leadership roles in the US House of Representatives and the New York State Assembly, and in strategic communications consulting. Her work has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America, Ragan Communications, the Webby Awards, and other national communications organizations.

Through On Repute, her independent publication and platform, Hernandez examines how organizations and leaders earn, carry, strengthen, damage, and recover reputation and what institutions can credibly claim when trust is tested. She also advises institutional leaders on positioning, reputation, and organizational adaptation through her independent advisory practice. She is pursuing a doctor of business administration in marketing at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and holds graduate degrees in public communication, public administration, and nonprofit management.