Jorge Cardenas, D.B.A.

Dean, College of Business

Jorge A. Cardenas, D.B.A., serves as Dean of the College of Business at Westcliff University, where he is responsible for strategic leadership for academic quality, accreditation, faculty development, and program growth. He brings extensive experience in higher education administration, outcomes-based assessment, and quality assurance across both traditional and online learning environments.

Prior to joining Westcliff University, Dr. Cardenas held senior academic leadership roles at the Forbes School of Business and Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus, serving as Assistant Dean and Professor. In this capacity, he led the Department of Professional Studies, overseeing multiple academic programs and managing both full-time and part-time faculty. He also previously served as Associate Dean and Department Chair at Ashford University.

Dr. Cardenas is widely recognized for his expertise in accreditation and assessment, particularly through his long-standing involvement with the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), a CHEA-recognized business program accreditor. He has participated in numerous national and international accreditation site visits as a certified reviewer, frequently serving as Chair. Additionally, he played a key role in advancing accreditation processes for non-academic certificate programs through his service on the IACBE Board of Directors, where he held multiple leadership positions including Secretary, Vice Chair, Chair, and Past Chair.

Before entering academia, Dr. Cardenas built a global professional foundation in distance education, working with the International Training Center to deploy telecommunications-based educational programs for public, private, governmental, and civil society organizations in more than 20 countries. His professional background also includes experience in hotel management and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Cardenas holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Alliant International University and earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University. His scholarly interests focus on entrepreneurship, strategy, and higher education leadership.