About Angela

Angela Cotera at Work

Angela Cotera, a graduate of Flagstaff High School, has been an Arizonan since 1967.  She earned both a B.S. in Engineering Science and a B.A. in Honors Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.   She returned to Arizona after college, working for APS at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station, where she met her husband Mark Hulet, a Nuclear Engineer at Palo Verde since 1984.   She subsequently returned to graduate school,  earning a PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University, specializing in Astrophysics.

After completing her doctorate she worked as a research associate, first at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, then at Steward Observatory, part of the University of Arizona.    Dr. Cotera, officially a West Valley resident since her marriage in 1991, was finally able to reside full time in Avondale beginning in 2002 when she taught introductory Astronomy at ASU.   Since 2003 she has worked on various NASA Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope research projects from her Avondale office, in collaboration with scientists from around the world.  Her research grant administration is provided by the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, part of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California.

Angela Cotera and her husband Mark Hulet

In the fall of 2006, frustrated by the actions of our local, state and national political leaders, Angela felt compelled to get involved and do whatever she could to help her local community.   She is currently serving on the Avondale Planning and Zoning Commission and General Plan Board, and is a graduate of both Leadership West (Class XIV) and Emerge Arizona (2007).   In 2008, in her first run for any public office (the Arizona State Senate, LD 12), Angela came within 5% of beating a four-term incumbent.   In fall 2009, she helped lead the Litchfield Elementary School Bond election to victory, to ensure that West Valley children have the school rooms they need to achieve their potential.  In addition to her campaign, she is currently working with the Tolleson Union High School parents to help pass their override this March, which essential to continuing the great progress TUSHD has made since the last override was passed.