Dr. Cordero de Noriega received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1966. She received a Master of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature in 1969 from University of California, Davis and a doctorate degree in Confluent Education with a bilingual, cross-cultural emphasis in 1978 from University of California, Santa Barbara. She has served as a California State University Executive Fellow.
A native of California, Dr. Cordero de Noriega began her career in higher education in 1979 as a part-time instructor at UC Santa Barbara. She served as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1991 to 1994, CSU Executive Fellow from 1993 to 1994, and Dean of the College of Education at CSU Sacramento from 1994 to 1999. Dr. Cordero de Noriega came to CSUMB as Interim Provost in September 1999. She was appointed to the permanent position of CSUMB Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs after a national search in April 2000. She assumed the mantle of Interim CSUMB President in June 2005, and will hold that post for at least one year until the selection of a new permanent president has been completed.
As Dean of the College of Education at CSU Sacramento, Dr. Cordero de Noriega was key in launching a teacher recruitment program to address the shortage of teachers after Governor Wilson launched his reading initiative, which included class-size reduction at the K-3 level. She was also instrumental in launching a successful distance learning and technology program for the Teacher Credential program.
As her first major contribution after arriving at CSUMB, Dr. Cordero de Noriega successfully led an 18-month process that produced the university's first Strategic Plan. She immediately followed that big impact by overseeing preparation for the the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Higher Education Commission review process that led to CSUMB receiving initial accreditation in 2003. Since then, she has been instrumental in navigating CSUMB through the state's difficult budget years, ensuring the survival of academic programs and integrity despite the fiscal challenges faced.
Clearly, Dr. Cordero de Noriega brings a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge to her new role as Interim President.