Cordero Holmes
STAR Fellow Alum, Family-Friendly Tribal and Rural Campuses
Bio
Cordero Holmes, a Phoenix native and proud member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, is a nationally recognized advocate, scholar, and community leader dedicated to justice reform, education equity, and youth empowerment. After overcoming more than a decade of incarceration, including time in solitary confinement, Cordero discovered the transformative power of education and used it to reshape his future.
While incarcerated, he enrolled at Rio Salado College, where he earned multiple degrees and certifications, focusing on Addiction and Substance Use Disorders. Cordero earned an Associate in Applied Science and an Associate in the Arts with an emphasis in Psychology. Continuing his education, Cordero then went on to graduate with honors from Arizona State University with a degree in Public Service and Public Policy. Today, he is pursuing dual master’s degrees while serving as Director of Operations for Progress Pushers Arizona, where he mentors justice-impacted youth and helps create pathways to opportunity.
Cordero’s inspiring journey and leadership have earned him numerous honors, including the 2025 American Association of Community Colleges Outstanding Alumni Award and the ASU Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Servant-Leadership Award. Through advocacy, mentorship, and storytelling, he continues to inspire others by proving that education, resilience, and community can create powerful second chances
Bio
Cordero Holmes, a Phoenix native and proud member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, is a nationally recognized advocate, scholar, and community leader dedicated to justice reform, education equity, and youth empowerment. After overcoming more than a decade of incarceration, including time in solitary confinement, Cordero discovered the transformative power of education and used it to reshape his future.
While incarcerated, he enrolled at Rio Salado College, where he earned multiple degrees and certifications, focusing on Addiction and Substance Use Disorders. Cordero earned an Associate in Applied Science and an Associate in the Arts with an emphasis in Psychology. Continuing his education, Cordero then went on to graduate with honors from Arizona State University with a degree in Public Service and Public Policy. Today, he is pursuing dual master’s degrees while serving as Director of Operations for Progress Pushers Arizona, where he mentors justice-impacted youth and helps create pathways to opportunity.
Cordero’s inspiring journey and leadership have earned him numerous honors, including the 2025 American Association of Community Colleges Outstanding Alumni Award and the ASU Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Servant-Leadership Award. Through advocacy, mentorship, and storytelling, he continues to inspire others by proving that education, resilience, and community can create powerful second chances