Lydia Patterson Institute Welcomes New President
Local Higher Education Exec Chosen to Lead the Independent Private School
EL PASO, TEXAS (March 1, 2022) – The Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) Board of Directors has named Carla Cardoza as President. Cardoza will begin her new role at LPI March 21. An experienced leader, Cardoza will succeed Dr. Socorro De Anda and assume responsibilities on March 21. After 35 years, Dr. de Anda announced her retirement in March 2021.
Previously Cardoza served as Director of Career and Transfer Services for El Paso Community College and Co-founder for the Nonprofit Enterprise Center, a nonprofit development organization for the region. She holds more than 20 years of experience in administration and nonprofit development. A native of El Paso, Cardoza holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and is completing her PhD in education at the University of Texas at El Paso.
“I am very excited about joining such a fine and highly regarded team,” said Cardoza. “LPI has been a pivotal institution in our border’s history, offering the best educational opportunities for students in our border community. I am ready with my sleeves rolled up to build on the success of the institution to advance the future of education in our beautiful region.”
Cardoza was chosen through a robust search process; the Board of Trustees reviewed a diverse set of candidates from across the country to find the best person to lead the United Methodist, private religious school, which has successfully navigated pandemic-related challenges over the past two years. Cardoza will be responsible for growing the school’s enrollment while increasing technological resources and capabilities for students.
“Ms. Cardoza brings a powerful vision for educating students in the Ciudad Juarez and El Paso region,” said Dr. Andy Stoker, President of the Lydia Patterson Board of Trustees. “She is a person of high character and deep compassion for students. The Board of Trustees saw in Carla one who can affirm the excellent place the school is today and enable Lydia Patterson Institute to thrive in the generations to come.”
About Lydia Patterson Institute:
Established in 1913, the Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) is an independent private school educates more than 400 7-12th graders annually, most of whom are from Ciudad Juarez. At LPI, Christian faith, values, and knowledge converge to give students a cross-cultural, state-of-the-art education centered around developing skills for success in a changing world. Originally founded by Methodist laywoman Lydia Patterson, LPI has responded to the need for a quality education within the community of the Juarez-El Paso Border Region for more than 100 years. With the support of the United Methodist Church, the institute prepares students, many of whom do not speak English upon their arrival, to be successful, bilingual and college-bound upon graduation. More than 96 percent of LPI graduates continue their education at colleges across the United States. For more information, visit www.lpi-elpaso.org.