Norma graduated from Southern Oregon University in 2000 with a Master of Business Administration degree. Before joining St. Olaf, Norma led and collaborated in projects related to quality improvement, strategic planning, and curriculum design in higher education in Mexico; worked at a culture-oriented publishing company in Hawaii; and collaborated in implementing employee orientation training for a 500 fortune US company in Wisconsin. After joining St. Olaf in  2015, she has developed, supported and developed programming for student success, with focus and strategic planning, student leadership development and intercultural competence.