Teresa Cordova, Ph.D. Urban Planning Educator, Former Elected Official, Community Development & Policy Expert To book: 310-937-2789.
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Teresa Cordova is a voice for community building. A noted urban planning educator, former elected official, and community development practitioner, she brings a vibrant and thought-provoking analysis to her presentations and leaves her audiences with concrete ideas on how to build community assets and approach problems facing their cities. An expert in the theory, practice and politics of community development, Teresa Cordova focuses on how communities can be developed to address issues of environmental justice, equity, quality of life and long term survivability. Jobs, infrastructure, and youth development are among the urban planning topics addressed in her programs. A distinguished speaker and researcher, Dr. Cordova offers a combination of theory, practice, and policy in the field of community development in her programs “Environmental Justice and Urban Planning,” “Power Relations and Community Building,” “Research and Community Visioning for Neighborhoods,” “Gentrification: A Neighborhood Conversation,” and “Community Partnerships for Better Cities.” Her work also focuses on strategies to engage in community-based practice as well as making connections and collaborations between universities and communities. Dr. Cordova’s work has been published and cited in several professional journals. Her experience as a policy maker, advocate, and community development expert underscores her analysis of the intersections of planning, practice, and politics invaluable to leaders and stakeholders. Dr. Cordova's newest programs provide a compelling analysis of global/local dynamics and the importance of the concept of an “engaged citizenry. Her keynotes, “The Economics of Globalization: What Happened and What We Need to Do,” and “Immigration, Mobility of Labor, and the Future of Communities,” present a cogent analysis of the dynamics of globalization, the impacts on Latino communities, and pose strategies to address the challenges through the practice of community development. The complexities of global economic restructuring play out at a local level and impact local communities on everything from jobs, local governments, land use, the criminal justice system, housing, and neighborhood development. Pursuant to her interest in grassroots activism, Dr. Teresa Cordova also offers empowerment programs such as “Leadership & Women of Color,” and “Chicana Feminism with Activism,” covering contemporary minority and Chicana issues. Currently, Dr. Cordova is Professor and Director of the Community and Regional Planning Program in the School of Architecture & Planning at the University of New Mexico. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. She is an elected official of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning; Chair of the Board of the Praxis Project, and has served on numerous national and local boards and steering committees of agencies and community organizations. She is the recipient of multiple awards and honors for community service and leadership in economic development, including the Sarah Belle Brown Community Service Award for Faculty- UNM; New Mexico’s Mid Region Council of Government (COG) Leadership Award; UNM Outstanding Faculty of Color Award; YWCA Woman on the Move Award, and UNM Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work, School of Architecture and Planning. To book Teresa Cordova as a keynote speaker or panelist for your next event, call 310-937-2789 or e-mail speakers@bestkeynotes.com 
