Paula Cordeiro

Paula is the Dammeyer Distinguished Professor of Global Leadership and Education in the Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego (USD) where she teaches social entrepreneurship. From 1998-2015 she served as dean of USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences and afterwards spent five years working internationally as the VP of Education for an international micro-finance social enterprise. Paula has served on a variety of civic and philanthropic boards including the James Irvine Foundation, the USS Midway Museum, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum (MA), San Diego Council on Literacy (chair), University Council for Educational Administration (president) and currently sits on the boards of the Burnham Center for Community Advancement (chair), the Conrad Prebys Foundation. Prior to being a professor, Paula was a teacher, principal and school director in Venezuela and Spain. Dr. Cordeiro was a first-generation college student and speaks Spanish and Portuguese.