Statewide Education Leader Dr. Carolina Cárdenas Costilla to Serve as 2026 Practitioner-in-Residence

The School of Public Affairs (SPA) is proud to announce that Dr. Carolina Cárdenas Costilla has been selected as the 2026 Practitioner-in-Residence (PIR) at San Diego State University.

Dr. Cárdenas Costilla brings more than three decades of senior leadership experience in public administration, higher education policy, and intergovernmental collaboration across California’s public systems. She currently serves as Executive Director of California GEAR UP and the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC) for the California Education Round Table, housed at the University of California Office of the President. In this role, she leads statewide initiatives that align K–12 education, community colleges, and public universities to expand access, equity, and student success, including oversight of a $66 million federally funded California GEAR UP grant.

Dr. Cárdenas Costilla’s career reflects the core competencies of public administration in practice: policy development, program implementation, interagency coordination, fiscal stewardship, and equity-centered leadership. Prior to her current role, she held multiple senior positions at the California State University Office of the Chancellor, where she directed academic preparation and access initiatives, including the Early Assessment Program, and served on the leadership team for the Early Start, Qualitative Reasoning, and CSU Grad Initiatives. Earlier in her career, she led federally funded outreach and college access programs at CSU San Marcos and served in administrative roles across both the CSU and UC systems.

Importantly, Dr. Cárdenas Costilla is an alumna of San Diego State University, where she earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA). Her return to SDSU as Practitioner-in-Residence represents a full-circle moment, bringing her extensive experience in public-sector leadership, governance, and program administration back to the institution that helped shape her professional foundation.

As Practitioner-in-Residence, Dr. Cárdenas Costilla will work closely with SPA students, faculty, and community partners to bridge theory and practice in public service. Her residency will include:

• Public lectures on public administration, educational governance, and equity-focused policy
• Guest lectures and engagement in SPA courses
• Student-focused events, mentoring, and applied learning opportunities
• Faculty collaboration on policy-relevant research and program development
• Engagement with graduate capstone projects and community-based partnerships

Dr. Cárdenas Costilla’s leadership exemplifies SPA’s mission to prepare ethical, effective, and equity-minded public service professionals. Her presence will enrich our curriculum, strengthen our external partnerships, and provide students with direct exposure to the realities of high-level public administration and intergovernmental work.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Carolina Cárdenas Costilla as the 2026 Practitioner-in-Residence for the School of Public Affairs.