VERACRUZ.- Architect Fernando Molina Herbert took on a new challenge this week: directing one of the most culturally rich regions in Mexico for the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

The state he will oversee is no small assignment. Veracruz is home to 8,000 registered archaeological sites — including treasures like Cempoala, Quiahuiztlán, and El Tajín — and 5,463 cataloged historic monuments, from colonial churches to the legendary Fortress of San Juan de Ulúa.

A Leadership Change at a Key Cultural Hub

The announcement came on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the auditorium of the National Port System of Veracruz. INAH Director General Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera formally introduced Molina Herbert as the new head of the INAH Veracruz Center, entrusting him with safeguarding this vast legacy.

“We want management that works directly from the territory,” said Vázquez Herrera, noting that the new leadership aims to strengthen conservation, research, legal protection, and public awareness of Veracruz’s heritage.

The change also marked the departure of José Manuel Bañuelos Ledesma, who led the center for six years before being appointed to direct INAH Oaxaca.
Returning Home

For Molina Herbert, the appointment is personal.

“This is the land where I was born,” he said. “It’s an honor to begin a new chapter here and contribute to the great work INAH is doing in Veracruz.”

A graduate in Architecture from the Universidad Regional del Sureste and holder of a master’s degree in Industrial Real Estate Appraisal from the Instituto Tecnológico de Construcción, both in Oaxaca, Molina has spent 20 years in public service dedicated to heritage preservation.

From Earthquake Recovery to Hurricane Response

Between 2019 and 2024, he served as Director of Public Works and later Director General of the Institute of Cultural Heritage of the State of Oaxaca (Inpac). During that time, he worked closely with INAH on the National Reconstruction Program, repairing damage to archaeological and historic sites caused by the devastating earthquakes of 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Most recently, as Director of Construction for Oaxaca’s state government, he coordinated infrastructure recovery after Hurricane Erick struck in June 2025, alongside overseeing other priority construction projects.

Earlier in his career, from 2014 to 2019, he worked in the Historical Monuments Section of the INAH Oaxaca Center, giving him hands-on experience in field conservation.

Championing Cultural Dissemination

Molina has also worked to bring cultural heritage to a wider audience. He oversaw publications of Gaceta Inpac and helped publish the book Lidxi Guendabiaani: colección arqueológica de la Casa de la Cultura de Juchitán, Oaxaca (2024), written by archaeologist Enrique Fernández Dávila.

His academic work reflects the same passion: in 2017, he completed a postgraduate thesis on how to fairly appraise artworks, using Francisco Toledo’s 1991 painting El sapo que se enredó tejiendo as a case study — a project aimed at ensuring fair trade for Oaxacan art.

Looking Ahead

As Molina Herbert steps into his new role, the challenges are as vast as Veracruz’s cultural map. His mission will be to protect fragile archaeological remains, preserve historic architecture, and keep the state’s rich traditions alive for future generations.

“In Veracruz, heritage is everywhere,” he said. “Our job is to make sure it stays that way.”