Dr. Steve Cardimona holds a B.S. in Applied Math and Physics from the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, with an emphasis in Geology and Geophysics, and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin, with an emphasis in Seismology.

After working as a Civilian Researcher at the Air Force Phillips Lab for five years, Dr. Cardimona began his teaching career at the University of Missouri-Rolla (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology).  After five years there, he came to California to fill the full time Earth Science Instructor position at Mendocino College where he has now been since 2002.