The College of Southern Nevada announced that North Las Vegas Campus Vice President and Provost Clarissa M. Cota was named as a 2021-2022 Rising Presidents Fellow by the College Excellence Program of the Aspen Institute. Fellows are selected through a rigorous process that consider their abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams, cultivate partnerships, commitment to equity and focus on results-oriented improvements in student access and success.
“Clarissa Cota is emerging as an exceptional college leader and we are very proud of her accomplishments and the positive impact she has on our North Las Vegas community,” said CSN President Federico Zaragoza. “She is a long-time advocate for workforce development and educational access for all. This recognition is a testament to her dedication to our Student First mission of student success.”
CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus is home to the Nicholas J. Horn theater, the Hospitality and Culinary Arts and Russell’s Restaurant, telecommunications and automotive and transportation technology programs.
Cota holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arizona and is a member of the State Bar of Arizona. She has institutional accrediting experience and has served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
She serves in numerous leadership roles with local and national boards, including chairing the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force for the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and serving as the American Council on Education (ACE) Office of Women in Higher Education, Nevada coordinator. She has been awarded academic recognitions including the president’s Outstanding Teaching Faculty Award for the College of Southern Nevada and the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program Ricardo Salinas Scholarship.