women
IN LEADERSHIP
Sacramento State
PAVING THE PATH FOR SACRAMENTO STATE ’ S FUTURE
As Sacramento State ’ s vice president
for university advancement since
2019 , Lisa Cardoza , Ed . D ., leads the university ’ s vital philanthropic efforts , raising funds to create transformational impacts on the university , its students , faculty , staff and the greater Sacramento region .
“ I started in higher education to help underserved students attend college and succeed ,” she says . “ I ’ ve also worked to empower students to see college as a feasible option by providing them with resources , tools and now scholarships .”
An extrovert , Cardoza enjoys meeting people and sharing stories about Sacramento State ’ s diverse and resilient students , faculty and staff . “ I greatly value making connections , building bridges and creating meaningful partnerships that benefit the community ,” she says . “ I ’ m passionate about helping others , particularly students who may need guidance to earn that coveted degree .” Cardoza recently earned the Champion Estrella Award from the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce , a significant recognition for the work Sacramento State is doing to increase graduation rates , increase access to educational opportunities and serve the community .
Cardoza started at Sacramento State in 2015 as President Robert S . Nelsen ’ s chief of staff and served as interim vice president for advancement in 2017 , as well as interim vice president for human resources in 2018 before her current role . “ Fortunately , my broad experience provided me the skill set to lead the university in its philanthropic efforts ,” says Cardoza . “ However , if not for the encouragement of others , I might not have considered even applying , since my career path wasn ’ t directly related to fundraising . So I actively work to encourage others , especially women , to consider their transferable skills and experiences when searching for opportunities .”
Cardoza ’ s overall goal is to help keep the university on the rise . “ Sacramento State is an incredible asset for our community ,” she says . “ Every dollar invested makes a difference .”
“ Sacramento State is an incredible asset for our community . Every dollar invested makes a difference .”
— Lisa Cardoza , Ed . D ., Vice President for University Advancement | Sacramento State
6000 J Street Sacramento , CA 95819
csus . edu / university-advancement
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