Messages from the Office of the Provost

4/23/25 - Maritime Integration Academic Update

Dear Colleagues, 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with Cal Maritime faculty and staff to share updates and hear their perspectives on the integration's academic aspects. In the spirit of transparency and collaboration, I want to ensure you are provided with the same information.  

Here are highlights of what was shared:  

Continuity and Planning: The 2025–26 academic year will serve as a bridge year, allowing us to continue delivering essential services on both campuses with a strong focus on student, faculty and staff success while we build toward full academic integration in fall 2026. 

Academic Services: Advising, tutoring, and library services in general will continue as-is through the bridge year. Planning teams have completed a service inventory and are identifying opportunities to strengthen alignment and delivery across both campuses. 

Academic Programs: Progress is underway on overlapping programs such as Mechanical Engineering and Business, with new offerings in development.  Working with Dean Wendt, faculty are exploring ways of strengthening and enhancing the oceanography program drawing from the expertise and synergies across the two campuses. 

Shared Governance: Maritime faculty integration into the Cal Poly Academic Senate is effective as of July 1. As part of their recent academic senate resolution, the Cal Poly Academic Senate created four at-large Solano campus senator positions for the 2025-26 academic year. All Solano at large senators will be selected by the Solano Campus faculty. In addition, the Cal Poly Academic Senate created a Solano specific position on all standing Academic Senate committees and on all upcoming ad hoc Academic Senate committees. The Cal Maritime Faculty Senate approved a resolution to merge with Cal Poly’s Academic Senate earlier this month. An ad hoc committee will evaluate long-term governance models during the bridge year. 

Retention, Tenure and Promotion (RTP): A unified RTP process is currently under discussion through the meet-and-confer process being finalized for the 2025–26 academic year. We aim to share updates as soon as we have an agreement. 

These have also been incorporated into the FAQ available on the Cal Poly Maritime Integration website. This page will be updated regularly, including responses to several questions raised during the session that we are still working to answer.  

This integration is significant and complex, and we know it raises important questions about what is changing, what is staying the same, and how work may be impacted on both campuses. We will have opportunities to discuss these updates with Cal Poly faculty and staff. In the meantime, if you have questions or feedback, please email cpcmintegration@calpoly.edu. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our students and academic community. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Al Liddicoat 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

4/22/25 - A Message from Interim Provost Dr. Al Liddicoat

Dear Cal Poly Faculty and Academic Affairs Staff, 

It is an honor to return to Cal Poly as your interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Having served this university in various capacities over the years, I have great respect for the work we do together to advance our mission of academic excellence and student success. 

As I step into this role, my immediate priority is to engage with faculty, staff, students and our Cal Poly community members as I onboard and begin my new role. Together, we will build on the strong foundation that has made Cal Poly a leader in higher education while enhancing our collaboration and communication across the division. I look forward to collaborating on many of the high priority initiatives that are currently underway.   

Over the past year, I have served as interim vice chancellor for human resources at the CSU Chancellor’s Office. This experience has deepened my understanding of the systemwide challenges and opportunities ahead and reaffirmed my commitment to clear communication, transparency and alignment of our priorities. I will bring this perspective to our work at Cal Poly as we continue to strengthen our university and better serve our campus community. 

I also want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Lynnette Zelezny for her leadership as acting provost during this transition. Her thoughtful engagement with faculty and staff and focus on accessibility and communication have set a strong foundation for the path ahead. 

Each and every one of you contributes to the success of Cal Poly and our students. In the weeks ahead, I look forward to reconnecting with many of you, meeting new colleagues and hearing your perspectives. I am committed to ensuring the Provost’s Office remains accessible, responsive and engaged in the work that matters most to our campus community. 

Thank you for your continued dedication to Cal Poly. 

Wishing you all a fabulous spring quarter,  

Dr. Al Liddicoat 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

4/9/25 - Save the Dates: Dean of CENG Candidate Visits & Open Forums

On behalf of the Consultative Search Committee for the Dean of the College of Engineering (CENG), we are pleased to share that Cal Poly will soon host up to four finalists for the role.  

Please save the following dates for potential two-day finalist visits to campus:  

• May 5-6, 2025 
• May 7-8, 2025 
• May 12-13, 2025 
• May 15-16, 2025  

All members of the campus community are invited to participate in the open forums with each finalist, offered both in person and virtually. These forums will take place on the second day of each visit, from 11:10 a.m. to noon, in the Advanced Technologies Lab (Building 007) and via Zoom. 

Information about each finalist, Zoom links for the forums and a feedback survey will be shared in advance of the visits.  

The CENG search committee is chaired by John Pan, professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. 

3/11/2025 - Kate Murphy named Dean of CLA effective July 1

Dr. Kate Murphy has been named dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), effective July 1.  

Kate has served as interim dean of CLA since August 2024 and has provided steady leadership during this time. In this role, she has advanced multiple strategic initiatives, including expanding transfer student pathways, enhancing career readiness programs and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration. Under her guidance, the college has remained committed to student success, faculty development and fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.  

Since joining Cal Poly in 2007, Kate has been a dedicated educator, researcher and leader. Before her role as interim dean, she served as associate dean for student success in CLA, overseeing academic advising, student services and graduate program administration. She also held roles as CLA administrative fellow and department chair and professor in the History Department, where she made significant contributions to curriculum innovation and interdisciplinary program development. 

A distinguished historian, Kate's research on the history of science and the transatlantic slave trade has been recognized with funding from the National Science Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). Her work has been published widely in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, including Plants, People, Planet; The William and Mary Quarterly; Early American Studies; and The British Journal for the History of Science. She is also the author of Captivity’s Collections: Science, Natural History, and the Transatlantic British Slave Trade. 

Kate holds a doctorate and master’s degree in history from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia. 

2/20/2025 - Marc Swackhamer named Dean of CAED effective Aug. 18

Marc Swackhamer will join Cal Poly as the dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) on Aug. 18, 2025. 
 
Marc brings extensive experience and a forward-thinking vision that aligns with CAED’s mission to lead in sustainable design, interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning. His work at the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and the University of Minnesota has been defined by his ability to integrate innovative research, digital fabrication and environmental sustainability into architectural education. 
 
As chair of the Architecture Department at CU Denver, Marc’s support of their design-build program and his own design research closely mirrors Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach. He is committed to creating environments where students engage in experiential learning that prepares them for success in architecture, planning, design and related fields.  
 
Marc is also an advocate for making architectural and design education more accessible and inclusive. His collaborative leadership will support the disciplines within CAED, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success. He looks forward to building on CAED’s legacy while advancing innovation, sustainability and community impact. 
 

1/22/2025 - Brian Horgan named Dean of CAFES effective July 1

Dr. Brian Horgan will join Cal Poly as the dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) on July 1, 2025.

Brian brings extensive experience and a clear vision for advancing CAFES as a leader in agricultural innovation, sustainability, and education. His distinguished work at Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota demonstrates his ability to foster collaboration, modernize academic programs, and provide meaningful support to faculty and staff.

His dedication to building interdisciplinary partnerships has created distinct opportunities for research, curriculum development, and community engagement. His focus on cultivating inclusive environments that embrace diverse perspectives will enrich the academic experience within the college and across the university.

As an advocate for experiential learning, Brian values Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy, and he is eager to work with faculty and staff to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for our students.

12/17/2024 - Interim Dean of the College of Engineering

Dr. Bob Crockett has been named interim dean for the College of Engineering, effective January 11, 2025. Bob will serve in this role through August 31, 2025, or until the permanent dean assumes the position. 

Since joining Cal Poly in 2003, Bob has served as a professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department and has held several key leadership roles within the College of Engineering, including associate dean for innovation and infrastructure, department chair for biomedical engineering and program director for general engineering. In 2022, he served as the administrator in charge of the Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education division (R-EDGE). 
 
With a professional career spanning more than three decades, Bob has worked across the aerospace, biotechnology, medical device and consumer products industries, specializing in the development and commercialization of disruptive technologies. He is also actively involved in innovation and entrepreneurship, working with several technology-based startup companies and serving as director of X-Lab for HaptX Inc. 

Bob holds a doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of Arizona, an MBA from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley.  

A national search for a permanent dean for the College of Engineering will begin soon.

12/16/2024 - Interim Dean of CAFES

Dr. Jeremy James has been named interim dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), effective December 21, 2024.  He will serve in this role through August 31, 2025, or until a permanent dean assumes the position, whichever occurs first. Jeremy replaces the current CAFES interim dean, Bill Hendricks, who will retire after serving Cal Poly for 30 years.  

Jeremy joined Cal Poly in 2020 as department head for the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department, which serves more than 850 students across three majors. In this role, he has emphasized shared governance, distributed leadership and applied student-centered research to enhance student success and advance the university’s polytechnic mission. 

During his tenure, the NRES Department has experienced significant growth. Applications for the forest and fire sciences major have doubled, and enrollment capacity has increased by 60% to meet rising student demand. Jeremy also collaborated with faculty and Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch to secure a $4.2 million CAL FIRE grant to prepare students to address California’s mounting wildfire challenges. 

Jeremy teaches a range of courses related to his scholarship and offers students hands-on opportunities supporting his ecosystem management research. For example, a recent student-led paper published in Environmental Research Letters evaluated how climatic variation impacts carbon capture across California’s diverse ecosystems. 

Before joining Cal Poly, Jeremy served as a research center director for the University of California, supporting faculty across the state in addressing a range of industry challenges, including rangeland livestock production, soil health and water quality management, and biodiversity conservation. He also worked as a research scientist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service in eastern Oregon, focusing on the management and recovery of rangeland following wildfires.   

Jeremy holds a doctorate in plant biology from UC Davis and a bachelor’s degree in Ecology from Cal Poly.