France A. Córdova

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France Anne Córdova (born August 5, 1947) is the seventh chancellor of the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and an astrophysicist.

She graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in English and received her Ph.D from California Institute of Technology in astrophysics. She was the youngest person and the first woman to hold the position of NASA Chief Scientist. She was the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the agency's highest honor. Cordova has published over 100 scientific papers and was named one of "America's 100 Brightest Scientists Under 40" by Science Digest magazine.

Cordova was also named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business Magazine, and she received the Hispanic Achievement Award in Science and Technology from Hispanic Magazine. She has served on the President's National Medal of Science Committee, and the Fundamental Science Committee of the National Science and Technology Council. She served for three years as Vice President of the American Astronomical Society. Cordova is married and is a mother of two children in college.

Córdova assumed her duties at UCR on July 1, 2002.