Training teachers and improving education in schools has always been foundational to Chico State’s mission—and few have done more to advance that mission than Victoria Bernhardt.

When Bernhardt joined the University in 1986, she brought a wealth of experience, having begun her career at the prestigious Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. After her doctoral work was completed, she worked in the Office of Program Evaluation and Research with the California Department of Education. Following that, she took a position with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where she oversaw the evaluation of more than 800 university programs. She was selected as its Outstanding Professional Employee in 1983.

At Chico State, Bernhardt was the inaugural Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Education, where she developed, directed, and evaluated programs for new teachers and their mentors in the University’s service area. The institute also led the creation of the Teaching Internship Program, pre-service programs in foreign language, the Special Education Internship Program, and the Special Education Multiple Subjects Concurrent Program.

In 1991, Bernhardt founded Education for the Future at Chico State. Its mission is to build the capacity of learning organizations to gather, analyze, and use data to continuously improve teaching and learning. Bernhardt worked with schools, districts, state departments of education, ministries of education, and other educational service centers on program evaluation, systemic improvement, and comprehensive data analysis, in every state and with leadership teams from more than 40 countries.

Along her research and advocacy work, Bernhardt has authored 22 books, including the widely used Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement, in its fifth edition.

Recognition of her accomplishments include several national and international honors as well as the Iowa State University Distinguished Achievement Award, and she received the Chico State Professional Honors Award twice.

“Vickie’s work with local, state, regional, national, and international education institutions has been remarkable,” said Steven King, emeritus Dean of the College of Education. “Literally thousands of schools and millions of students have been influenced. I would venture to assert that Professor Bernhardt has beneficially planted the Chico State flag in more places, resulting in more distinction for the campus, than any faculty member.”

Bernhardt is a member of American Association of University Women, Great Decisions Foreign Policy Group, Power of 100 Women, the Sierra Club, and other organizations. She volunteers as a hike leader for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.