Office of the Dean

Yojanna Cuenca-Carlino, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education

Dr. Yojanna Cuenca-Carlino brings the perspective of a former special education teacher, researcher, department chair, and university administrator to her role as Dean of the NAU College of Education. As a leader, she prioritizes student access and success, faculty and staff development, and building partnerships that connect the college directly to the schools and communities it serves.

Dr. Cuenca-Carlino began her career as a special education teacher in San Juan, Puerto Rico, working with adolescents with intellectual/developmental disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders. That early classroom experience continues to shape her approach to leadership today. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in special education and M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from George Mason University, following a B.A. in special education from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.

Prior to joining NAU, Dr. Cuenca-Carlino served as chair and professor of special education at Illinois State University, where she led Illinois’ largest special education program, serving more than 800 students across multiple licensure and graduate pathways. Her strategic approach to faculty development, inclusive teaching, and institutional transformation advanced statewide teacher preparation initiatives and promoted inclusive excellence. Throughout her career, she has built seven new programs and pathways into the profession, each designed to respond directly to the needs of the communities she served, expanding access through online and technology-enabled formats and forging strong partnerships with school districts and community colleges to strengthen the statewide educator pipeline.

Dr. Cuenca-Carlino has secured more than $5 million in philanthropic commitments to support program innovation and scholarships, and has overseen nearly $8 million in state and federal grants for research and educator preparation. Earlier in her career, she served as Assistant Vice President for Faculty Development, Diversity, and Learning in the Office of the Provost at Illinois State, where she led university-wide efforts to advance faculty development and staff success, helped improve teaching and learning across the institution through the creation of the Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence, and worked to strengthen faculty recruitment and retention. She also led initiatives to enhance and expand online learning and education, strengthening the university’s capacity to serve students through flexible, high-quality instructional formats.

Dr. Cuenca-Carlino is a prolific scholar in writing interventions, culturally responsive practices, and teacher preparation for multilingual learners with disabilities. She is bilingual and bi-literate in English and Spanish.

Since 1899, the Northern Arizona University College of Education has prepared passionate, skilled teachers who make a lasting difference in classrooms across Arizona and beyond. Over the past century, that mission has grown to encompass counseling, school and clinical psychology, educational leadership, and STEM education, reflecting the many ways our graduates support learners and communities today. Dr. Cuenca-Carlino believes education is one of the most powerful tools for opportunity and change, and she is committed to a college where academic excellence meets real-world, hands-on experience, preparing teachers, counselors, psychologists, STEM educators, and education leaders who serve learners of all ages. The college also supports incoming Lumberjacks from their very first semester through First Year Seminar, helping students build a strong foundation for their college experience. Under Dr. Cuenca-Carlino’s leadership, the college remains committed to expanding access for students, strengthening the faculty and partnerships that make hands-on learning possible, and deepening its work with schools and communities throughout Arizona, including rural and tribal communities, in support of NAU’s Elevate priorities.