Dr. José Israel Herrera serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Maya Heritage at the Maya Heritage Center, where he has played a pivotal role since the organization’s founding in 2004 through Manejo Cultural, A.C. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping the journal’s academic rigor and relevance, particularly in the intersection of legal frameworks and cultural preservation.
Dr. Herrera holds a Ph.D. from the Faculty of Jurisprudence at the University of Amsterdam, a Doctorate in Government and Public Administration, a Master’s degree in Anthropological Sciences, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY). This multidisciplinary foundation allows him to integrate legal, governmental, and anthropological perspectives into the journal’s editorial direction.
In 2025, Dr. Herrera contributed to the organization with Open Heritage Press and in 2026 with Infinia which represented an important step toward making archaeological and heritage knowledge more accessible to researchers, students, educators, heritage professionals, and the public. In 2026, he created Infinia, an international, interdisciplinary, open-access academic journal dedicated to the publication and dissemination of original research, theoretical reflections, case studies, and critical contributions regarding major contemporary challenges in the social sciences, the humanities, and related fields.Â
A leading advocate for the protection of archaeological heritage in Mexico, Dr. Herrera’s work reflects a deep commitment to advancing legal standards and public policy for cultural preservation. Under his guidance, the Journal of Maya Heritage continues to elevate scholarly contributions and supports the Maya Heritage Center’s mission to promote and disseminate critical knowledge about Maya culture and heritage, with a strong emphasis on legal and ethical considerations.