A Fort Worth native and Texas Christian University graduate who helped Mexico's Vicente Fox topple the world's longest- ruling political party has been appointed to the president- elect's Cabinet, a top Fox adviser said Wednesday. Juan Hernandez, who lives in Mexico City with his wife and children, will serve as Fox's adviser on U.S.-Mexico affairs, said Jaime Gutierrez Casas, the president-elect's agenda coordinator. Fox has not publicly described the duties of the newly created position, but Hernandez will work at Los Pinos, the presidential offices. Several observers of Mexican politics said Hernandez, 45, is the first U.S.-born person to be chosen for such a high-level position in the Mexican government. "Juan is uniquely positioned to understand Mexicans living in the United States and Mexicans living in Mexico," said Carlos Peña, vice president for university advancement at the University of Texas at Dallas. "He has the sensitivity to truly build a bridge between those two communities." Hernandez could not be reached by telephone to comment Wednesday. Fox, whose inauguration is Dec. 1, stunned the world July 2 when he defeated Francisco Labastida of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which had held the Mexican presidency since 1929. Hernandez will be part of a Cabinet facing the formidable task of carrying out Fox's ambitious program of economic, social and political change in a country of deeply entrenched traditions. His father, Francisco Hernandez Sr., said his son is an excellent choice. "Of all my children, Juan is probably the one who loves Mexico the most. He understands the Mexican culture 100 percent," said Francisco Hernandez Sr., who lives with his wife, Mary, in Fort Worth's Fairmount neighborhood. "He is not Mexican-American: He is Mexican and he is American." Juan Hernandez made up for a lack of political experience by spending three years at Fox's side, getting an intense education in the workings of Mexican politics. The two campaigned vigorously for the vote in Mexico and traveled abroad to meet with international leaders. When Fox was governor of Guanajuato state, they created a trade office and warehouse in Dallas for small Mexican businesses. Hernandez's appointment is consistent with Fox's oft-stated vision of making the border more fluid and ultimately irrelevant, UT-Dallas' Peña said. "What this tells me is that President Fox is definitely very serious about enhancing or strengthening the link between Mexico and Mexicans living in the United States," Peña said. Peña, who was born in Mexico, met Hernandez about four years ago when Hernandez set up the university's Center for U.S.-Mexico Studies. The center's mission is to cultivate a cadre of U.S. and Mexican professionals who understand the forces at work in both nations. Hernandez will tackle that same mission on a much larger scale. "I can't think of anyone more capable of doing that," Peña said. "I know that he loves Mexico dearly and feels very strongly about his U.S. roots. He takes great pride in what each country has given him." Hernandez was born in Fort Worth but spent several years in Fox's home state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. He holds two passports and frequently travels between the United States and Mexico. During an August trip to Fort Worth, he visited with officials at TCU, from which he received his master's degree and doctorate in English. Back then, he played guitar and sang to earn money for school, becoming a weekend fixture at Joe T. Garcia's restaurant in the Fort Worth Stockyards. "Dr. Hernandez and his family have been such a part of TCU, and we are extremely proud of him," said Larry Adams, the university's associate provost for academic affairs. "This news speaks very well for the future of this whole area and we look forward to very strong relationships in the future on a variety of fronts." Hernandez's first formal event is a gathering of Mexican-American leaders at Los Pinos on Dec. 3. Staff writer Adriana Torrez contributed to this report. Mexican Cabinet takes shape President-elect Vicente Fox's still- evolving Cabinet includes a broad range of intellectuals, politicians, economic experts and members of the business community. Here is a partial list; Fox said he will announce the rest of his appointments by Monday. * Foreign secretary: Jorge Castañeda, a 47-year-old liberal New York University professor and columnist for several U.S. newspapers and magazines. * U.S.-Mexico affairs: Juan Hernandez, 45, a Fort Worth native who served as Fox's campaign scheduler and was among his inner circle of advisers. * Coordinator for U.S. border issues: Ernesto Ruffo, governor of Baja California from 1989-95, will coordinate policy across agency lines. * Treasury secretary: Francisco Gil Diaz, 57, chief executive officer of telecommunications company Avantel. Known as the father of Mexico's current tax system. * Economy secretary: Luis Ernesto Derbez, 53, an economist on leave from the World Bank. * Economic czar: Eduardo Sojo, a member of Fox's transition team. * Energy secretary: Ernesto Martens, a chemical engineer. * Agriculture secretary: Javier Usabiaga, a farmer known as the "Garlic King." * Transportation and communications secretary: Pedro Cerisola, a prominent businessman. * Environment secretary: Victor Lichtinger, former director of the environment commission of the North American Free Trade Agreement. * Tourism secretary: Leticia Navarro, a little-known businesswoman. * Presidential spokeswoman: Martha Sahagún, Fox's longtime media director.