Historical instructor

DONNA FERNANDEZ

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.24/5 from 59 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

BIO151 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
Dr. Fernandez was an okay professor, but I had a hard time understanding the material the way she presented it. On top of that, the exam was extremely difficult compared to the level of depth that we covered during lecture. I can't tell if it was her teaching that made me test poorly or simply that the concepts were challenging. I'd say she is fine
Rate My Professors ↗
BIO151 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 5/5
DR. FERNANDEZ IS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRID PROFESSOR. SHE PROVIDED NO PREPARATION THAT WAS EVEN CLOSE IN DIFFICULTY TO HER EXAMS. SHE PRESENTED THE MATERIAL WITH SURFACE-LEVEL DETAIL. THE EXAM WAS EXTREMELY APPLICATION-BASED, UNLIKE HER LECTURES. I MEAN THIS WITH ALL MY HEART, DR. FERNANDEZ SHOULD NEVER EVER TEACH AN INTRO BIOLOGY CLASS AGAIN!!!
Rate My Professors ↗
ZOO151 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
I honestly don't get negative reviews from Donna. If you read the book, listen to lecture multiple times to the point you actually understand, do hw/problem sets/lecture activities/quizzes, you will be fine. She explains things well and writes notes with you (which I believe is rare in biology). She is not a bad professor you want to avoid.
Rate My Professors ↗
BIO151 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
She was okay. One of three professors for Bio 151. She writes on paper with pen on a camera projector. Sometimes it can be difficult to read her handwriting. I wouldn't worry about having her for Bio 151 but I wouldn't take her in the future for a bio class. Only memorization. Made us memorize numbers which don't matter until upper level classes.
Rate My Professors ↗
BIO151 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Dr. Fernandez's way of giving notes to students is so different, unique, and effective; unlike reading off slides, she writes and draws the notes with you. She is very fast paced and covers a lot of content is so little time, but if you stay on top of your notes and ask for help, you will be okay. Dr Fernandez also replies quickly to emails.
Rate My Professors ↗
BIO151 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
Her lectures were structured very simply in that she just wrote the notes down on a piece of paper for you to copy off of. Her unit was cells/ cellular metabolism which is a hard subject in general so I felt that she presented the material effectively rather than just reading off of a powerpoint (which would have made it harder).
Rate My Professors ↗

Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with DONNA FERNANDEZ

BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840

Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development

Credits unavailable

This course covers molecular mechanisms of plant development, focusing on how regulatory factors control gene expression and cellular growth.

No offering record · Fall 2020

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Richard AmasinoDonna Fernandez+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2016–Fall 2016 · limited sample
BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151

Introductory Biology

5 credits

Introductory Biology covers cell structure, metabolism, genetic information flow, genetics principles, and animal physiology.

No offering record · Fall 2020

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

David AbbottKerry Martin+5 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2016–Fall 2020
ZOOLOGY 153

Introductory Biology

3 credits

ZOOLOGY 153 covers introductory biology topics like cell function, genetics, and physiology for engineering majors without a lab.

No offering record · Fall 2020

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

David AbbottKerry Martin+5 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2016–Fall 2020

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2020BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2020BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2020BOTANY 499Intermediate Directed Research
Fall 2020ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2020BOTANY 299Directed Study in Botany
Spring 2020BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Fall 2019BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2019BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2019ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2019BOTANY 499Intermediate Directed Research
Spring 2019BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2019BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Spring 2019BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2018BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2018BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2018BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2018BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2018ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2018BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2018BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Spring 2018BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2017BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2017BOTANY 299Directed Study in Botany
Fall 2017BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2017BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2017ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2017BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2017BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Spring 2017BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2016BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2016BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2016BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2016BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2016ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2016BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2015BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2015BOTANY 299Directed Study in Botany
Fall 2015BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2015ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2015BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152Introductory Biology
Spring 2015BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2014BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2014BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2014BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2014BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2014ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2014BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2014BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Spring 2014BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Spring 2014BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Spring 2014MOLBIOL 699Directed Studies in Molecular Biology
Fall 2013BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2013BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2013MOLBIOL 699Directed Studies in Molecular Biology
Fall 2013ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2013BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Spring 2013BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152Introductory Biology
Spring 2013BOTANY 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2013MOLBIOL 699Directed Studies in Molecular Biology
Fall 2012BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2012BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2012BOTANY 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2012MOLBIOL 699Directed Studies in Molecular Biology
Fall 2012ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2012BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152Introductory Biology
Spring 2012BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Fall 2011BIOLOGY 699Directed Studies
Fall 2011BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Fall 2011BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2011BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Spring 2011BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Fall 2010BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2010BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151Introductory Biology
Fall 2010BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2010ZOOLOGY 153Introductory Biology
Spring 2010BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Spring 2010BOTANY 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2010BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2010BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Spring 2010BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Fall 2009BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152Introductory Biology
Fall 2009BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2009BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2008BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2008BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Spring 2008BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Spring 2008BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2008BOTANY 860Plant Cell Biology
Spring 2008BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Spring 2008MOLBIOL 699Directed Studies in Molecular Biology
Fall 2007BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Fall 2007BOTANY 699Directed Study
Fall 2007BOTANY 960Seminar-plant Physiology
Fall 2007BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Spring 2007BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130General Botany
Spring 2007BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152Introductory Biology
Spring 2007BOTANY 699Directed Study
Spring 2007BOTANY 996Research-plant Physiology
Fall 2006BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Fall 2006BIOLOGY 699Directed Studies

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
{
  "instructor_uid": "instructor_270d9031eed3044e7dc0cba8",
  "source": "madgrades",
  "source_instructor_id": "2600911",
  "identity_basis": "source_id",
  "identity_status": "source_identified",
  "name": "DONNA FERNANDEZ",
  "email": null,
  "first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00",
  "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
  "ratings": {
    "review_count": 59,
    "quality": 3.24,
    "difficulty": 3.47,
    "quality_count": 59,
    "difficulty_count": 59,
    "profile_id": "rmp:383653",
    "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/383653",
    "match_basis": "exact_name",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:43:17.758702+00:00",
    "courses": {
      "course_4722ef6b23bfedc23131f60d": {
        "review_count": 1,
        "quality": 3,
        "difficulty": 4,
        "quality_count": 1,
        "difficulty_count": 1
      }
    },
    "bayesian_quality": 3.3462495654548348,
    "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
    "prior_weight": 20
  },
  "grade_statistics": {
    "gpa": 2.958,
    "graded": 8755,
    "counts": [
      1740,
      941,
      3609,
      654,
      1432,
      315,
      64
    ],
    "sections": 121
  },
  "current": false,
  "courses": [],
  "revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "instructor_url": "/instructors/DONNA_FERNANDEZ--instructor_270d9031eed3044e7dc0cba8"
}