Meet the Team

As the director of Student Involvement and Leadership, Patrick Cardenas leads his team in providing a comprehensive student life experience through involvement in registered student organizations (RSO), leadership development, campus activities, civic & community engagement, spirit & traditions, and mascot programming. His responsibilities also include department strategic planning and assessment, coordination of divisional co-curricular initiatives, university-wide collaborative programming, and represents the Division of Student Affairs on committees and task forces to enhance the quality of the holistic student experience.

Cardenas earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and sociology, and a master’s degree in behavioral science-industrial/organizational psychology from UHCL. He also obtained a master’s degree in higher education administration from Sam Houston State University.

Njoku has worked in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at UHCL since January 2021. In her role as the Associate Director, Njoku supports the Campus Activities Board and Student Government, assists with department assessment initiatives, as well as manages the Organizations and Activities area, including program research, development, outreach, budget management and implementation.

Njoku obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 and a Master of Education in Higher Education from the University of Houston in 2015.

Nash joined the Student Involvement and Leadership team in August 2018. Before becoming the Assistant Director in January 2021, he served the department as the Coordinator of Organizations and Activities. In his role as the Assistant Director, he leads the Leadership, Community, and Civic Engagement programming efforts. Dillon advises Hawks 4 Community, the Hawk Leadership Institute, the UH-Clear Lake Democracy Fellows, and oversees the training of campus partners in utilizing UHCL GetInvolved.

Nash obtained his bachelor’s degree in mass communication-strategic communications in 2016 before obtaining a master of arts in higher education-student affairs from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2018.

Dr. Goyarzu has served as the program manager in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership since November 2020, and has previously served as the Program Coordinator for the Student Conference for Research and Creative Arts for 17 years at UHCL. In her role as program manager, she supports leadership development programs such as our Leadership Workshop Series and the Annual Student Leadership Conference and serves on the Civic Engagement Coalition; supporting civic engagement efforts at UH-Clear Lake.

Dr. Goyarzu attended the University of Houston-Clear Lake where she obtained both her B.S. and M.A. in Behavioral Science before going on to earn her Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.

Bearden has worked in Student Involvement and Leadership at UHCL since October 2010. Before becoming the department assistant in October 2018, she served the department as a student assistant, program assistant, and staff assistant. In her role as the Department Assistant IV, Bearden handles all the business-related functions for Student Involvement and Leadership and is responsible for all training aspects for student associates.

Bearden obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2010 and a Master of Arts degree in industrial/ organizational psychology in 2012.

Rivardo has worked in Student Involvement and Leadership at UHCL since January 2017. Before becoming the Coordinator of Organizations & Activities in August 2022, she served the department as an Administrative Assistant II and before that a student assistant for organizations and activities. In her role as Coordinator of Organizations & Activities, she provides support to all Registered Student Organizations, Advises the Hawk Spirit & Traditions Council and oversees the University Mascot.

Rivardo obtained a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2019 and a Masters of Business Administration in 2022 at UH-Clear Lake.

Villarreal started working in Student Involvement and Leadership at UHCL in December 2022 as the departments Administrative Assistant II. In his role, he assists with the coordination of special events, meetings and projects and offers excellent customer service to all visitors that enter the office.

Villarreal attended Galveston College and College of the Mainland.