Catherine Gorman Cordova 2

 Catherine (Gorman) Cordova, PhD

Dr. Catherine Cordova serves as Director of Academic Planning and Retention in the David C. Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh.

Catherine has over a decade of leadership and teaching experience in higher education, and mentoring. She has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector and a range of national organizations with extensive experience in curriculum development and instruction. She has developed and implemented an Honors curriculum on Mentorship and Leadership, and led the embedding of a service lab within Composition courses.

As President Emeritus of the International Mentoring Association, Catherine conducts international mentor trainings and serves on the Board of the Peer Mentor Advisory Council for the Campbell University Rose Center for Peer Mentorship within the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. Additionally, Catherine has partnered with the U.S. and Bolivian Embassies to conduct mentor training, and is a certified mentoring consultant. Her research on peer mentoring and community engagement, especially in Honors, has been published in various venues including 2023 Routledge text, Reciprocal Mentoring, and the upcoming 2026 publication, Mentoring for Wellbeing Across the Professions and Disciplines.

As a first-generation student, and a former Honors student herself, Catherine understands the important intersection of community engagement, college, and career skills, which she outlines in her text Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Go to College, (Routledge, 2024). Catherine holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction focused in Career and Workforce Education from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor and Master’s in English from Florida Gulf Coast University. 

SPEAKER TRAVELS FROM

Tennessee, USA

AVAILABLE FOR 

In-person, virtual, or hybrid events

CONSULTANT SAMPLE TOPICS

  • Peer Mentoring

  • Corporate Mentoring

  • Academic Mentoring

  • Career Mentoring

  • Research Related to Mentoring Self-Efficacy and Career Decision-Making

Testimonials:

  • "I am delighted to recommend Catherine Cordova as a speaker and mentor trainer. She has been an exceptional guide in developing our first mentorship program at the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) empowering me and others to grow as leaders and speakers. Catherine is a proactive, action-oriented servant leader who consistently advocates for programs and people she believes in. As keynote speaker at our Fall 2023 Mentorship Program Kickoff, she engaged over 200 students, corporate mentors from across industries, and university leaders, tailoring her presentation thoughtfully to the audience and program stage. Her ability to connect, inspire, and deliver actionable insights makes her an outstanding speaker for corporate engagement or higher education settings’." - Maria Sotomayor, M.Ed., M.B.A.

  • "I have had the privilege of witnessing Catherine's strong speaking abilities in various contexts—from facilitating peer mentor training to leading college classes. Catherine is a truly eloquent speaker who brings an uplifting energy to her presentations. Her gift lies not only in her clarity of message but in her remarkable ability to engage even the most reluctant audience members, drawing them in and creating meaningful connections. Catherine's presentations are both impactful and accessible, making her an invaluable asset to any speaking engagement." - Lii Fitzgerald