Nava joined California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation in November 2018. His administrative portfolio includes philanthropic giving, alumni, government and community relations, strategic communications, advancement services and operations, and the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation.

Prior to joining CSUSB, Nava served as the Vice President for University Advancement and the President of the foundation at San Francisco State University (SFSU). He led the university through all phases of a $150 million comprehensive campaign, which exceeded its goal and included two gifts of $25 million.

He was formerly the associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP). In his five years at UTEP, Nava led the development and alumni units and directed the University's Centennial Campaign, which raised almost half of its $200 million goal before its public launch.

Nava earned his Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice at the University of Texas at El Paso.