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Office of the Provost

Messages from the Office of the Provost

Spring 2025

6/12/25 - End-of-Year Note from the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

As we wrap up the academic year, I want to thank you for your continued dedication to our students, to one another, and to the collective efforts that make Cal Poly such an amazing university. Whether in classrooms, labs, advising centers, offices, or across operations and administration, your contributions uphold the academic excellence and innovation that define our institution.

Since stepping into the role of interim provost, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many of you through department and college visits, leadership meetings, the Academic Senate, advisory council meetings and at other events on campus. These conversations have been candid and insightful. I’m grateful for the warm welcome home and am so excited to be back working with all of you while serving this wonderful community.

This spring, we’ve made meaningful progress. We’ve advanced a new leadership structure for the Office of Research and began working with Huron to chart a path forward to better support faculty and student research at Cal Poly. I’ve also convened two working groups to assess strategic academic resource planning and academic computing resources, with the goal of identifying critical needs in a time of funding uncertainty. Additionally, along with President Armstrong and university leadership, I participated in listening sessions across colleges to understand priorities as revisions to the CSU budget come forward and discuss how growth may help address long-term resource needs.   

Major university initiatives are also moving forward:

  • Semester Conversion remains on track for fall 2026. As of the June 3 Academic Senate meeting, review and approval of the semester curriculum proposals is nearly complete, with just one minor still in progress.  We are grateful to the curriculum committees and the Academic Senate for their diligent work and to those who will continue this work into the summer.  Implementation and system planning are underway, and new faculty and student support resources are planned to roll out in the coming months.
  • The Cal Maritime Integration is progressing with Cal Poly and Cal Maritime set to begin operating administratively as one university effective July 1, 2025. Current efforts are focused on aligning academic programs and services and preparing for a smooth 2025-26 bridge year for students, faculty and staff. Additionally, an agreement was reached in our meet and confer with CFA on the required faculty evaluation changes necessary to integrate our two university policies and processes. 

As we prepare for the year ahead, I want to share my top priorities:

  • Continue multi-year budget and resource planning in alignment with the university to enhance Learn by Doing, academic excellence, and student and employee success.
  • Expanding access to a Cal Poly degree for more California students through strengthened partner school networks, innovative degree programs, and year-round operations where appropriate. This includes continuing to expand and enhance our 2+2 pathways with Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College.
  • Strengthening our academic leadership team, including onboarding new leaders and continuing key searches. This summer, we’ll welcome three new permanent deans (CAFES, CAED, and CLA) and one interim dean (Library Services). In the fall, we will resume the search for the next CENG dean and launch a national search for the Library Services dean. These leadership transitions bring fresh perspectives and will help foster multidisciplinary and cross-departmental collaboration.

Our work in the Office of the Provost is grounded in service to the Cal Poly community. Looking ahead, we’ll continue to prioritize transparency, collaboration and a commitment to shared governance. As we plan for the coming academic year, I invite you to share your thoughts on what’s working well, where we can improve, or what you’d like to see more of in Academic Affairs. Feedback can be submitted anonymously using this form, or you can email us at provost@calpoly.edu.

Thank you again for all that you do as we continue to lead the nation in Learn by Doing education. Your contributions make Cal Poly stronger and better prepared for the opportunities ahead.

I hope you find time this summer to rest, recharge and reflect on all you’ve accomplished. I am excited and look forward to what we’ll achieve together in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Al Liddicoat
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Campus Community,  

Recently, four candidates for the College of Engineering (CENG) dean position participated in campus visits as part of a national search process. After careful deliberation and consideration of feedback from many and various campus constituents, I have decided to extend the current search and reopen the process in the next academic year.  

Please be assured that I remain committed to appointing a new permanent dean of the college. President Armstrong and I are working with the executive search firm, Isaacson Miller, to assess opportunities for enhancing the next phase of the search. 

I am grateful to the consultative search committee for their dedicated work on this search and to the members of the campus community who participated in the search process, engaged with and provided feedback on the visiting candidates.  

Bob Crockett’s service as interim dean of the College of Engineering (CENG) will be extended while the search continues. Please join me in thanking Bob for his willingness to continue leading during this transition to help ensure the college's and university's continued success. 

Sincerely, 
 
Al Liddicoat 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

6/9/25 - Supporting Our Community During Difficult Times

Dear Colleagues,

As events continue to unfold in the Los Angeles area, members of our Cal Poly community may be experiencing uncertainty, disrupted routines, or emotional distress in response to social and political unrest.

Please consider extending compassion and flexibility to your students and colleagues who may be affected. This may include adjusting deadlines, offering leniency with attendance or providing other appropriate forms of support. Academic Senate Resolution AS-980-20 provides guidance for accommodating students who miss class due to extenuating circumstances. 

The following resources are also available:

Your support is so important to the well-being of our students and in creating a sense of stability across campus. And please remember that as you care for others, take time to care for yourselves.

Thank you for all that you do for our community.

Sincerely,

Al Liddicoat
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

5/19/25 - Interim Dean of Library Services

Dear Cal Poly Library Colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine O’Clair as interim dean of Library Services, effective July 1, 2025. She will serve in this role through June 30, 2026, or until a permanent dean is appointed. 

Katherine is a longtime member of the Kennedy Library faculty and a respected leader in academic librarianship with more than two decades of experience in higher education. Since joining Cal Poly in 2009, she has advanced through faculty ranks, earning tenure in 2013 and promotion to librarian in 2018. For the past six years, she has served as associate dean for Academic Services, providing strategic leadership for library programs that reflect Cal Poly’s Teacher-Scholar Model and Learn by Doing philosophy. 

Her scholarship and professional contributions include peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, conference presentations and an edited monograph focused on library practice and information literacy. She has held leadership roles in national organizations such as the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries and has served multiple terms on Cal Poly’s Academic Senate and Academic Assessment Council. 

Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Nazareth College and a master's degree in library and information studies from Florida State University.  

A national search for a permanent dean for library services will begin soon. Please join me in thanking Katherine for her service and leadership during this transition.  

Sincerely, 
 
Al Liddicoat 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

5/5/25 - Maritime Integration: New Academic Updates

Dear Cal Poly Faculty and Academic Affairs Staff, 

Before our colleagues at Cal Maritime completed their spring semester on Friday, May 2, I shared a message outlining academic updates that have solidified since my recent visit to their campus. I’m sharing those same updates with you to ensure that faculty and staff across both campuses are informed and aligned.  

Department of International Strategy & Security (ISS) Alignment 
After consultations with stakeholders at both campuses, Maritime’s ISS program will now be merged with the Philosophy Department in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). This updated alignment reflects faculty feedback and positions the program for long-term growth and success.  

Department of Sciences and Mathematics Alignment 
The following alignments of Maritime’s Department of Sciences and Mathematics have been updated: The math faculty will integrate with the mathematics department in the Bailey College of Science and Math (BCSM), and the faculty in natural sciences will transition intact as a department to the BCSM. Faculty in this department will continue to work with Dean Wendt, exploring ways to strengthen and enhance the connections with existing departments in BCSM and the oceanography program that draws from the expertise and synergies across the two campuses. 

Business Program 
The 2026-28 catalog will include a single, unified business program taught on both campuses, including a new supply chain management concentration at the Solano campus starting in Fall 2026. 

Mechanical Engineering 
We’re committed to maintaining ABET accreditation for Mechanical Engineering across both campuses. Faculty in both mechanical engineering programs will develop a common core curriculum in the 2025-26 academic year, which they will propose for review in the 2026-28 catalog cycle. 

Library 
Maritime librarians and library staff will report to the dean of library services at Cal Poly with a continuation of the current Maritime operating model through the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Solano Campus Chair and Coordinator Appointments 
To support continuity and academic operations at the Solano campus, we have finalized new chair and academic program coordinator assignments across several departments and areas. These appointments will begin July 1, 2025, and include some summer assignments, for which faculty will be compensated. Current chair and coordinator roles at Cal Maritime will remain in place through June 30, 2025. The new Solano-based roles will report to Cal Poly leadership and play a key role in supporting a smooth transition. Additionally, college deans are determining assigned time needs for faculty who will take on administrative responsibilities at the Solano campus in the 2025-26 academic year. 

RTP Process 
Details regarding the RTP process for the 2025-26 academic year are still being worked out with the Chancellor’s Office and the California Faculty Association. The meet-and-confer process will continue until an agreement is made. We understand the importance of this issue and will share details as soon as possible.  

Thank you for your continued engagement, collaboration and support as we work together toward successful integration. Questions and feedback can be sent to cpcmintegration@calpoly.edu.  

Sincerely, 

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

5/1/25 - Research Updates

Dear Colleagues,

As President Armstrong shared earlier this year, the research office is integrating into the Division of Academic Affairs. Effective today, May 1, this move aims to strengthen the connection between research and academic priorities while optimizing the systems and tools that support scholarly activity across campus. This is a restructuring and does not reflect a reduced commitment to research at Cal Poly.

Dawn Neill, who has served as interim vice president for Research, has started a new position effective today as executive director of Pacific Engagement and Educational Partnerships in the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Advocacy. I am grateful for Dawn’s leadership, dedication and many contributions to research at Cal Poly, and I look forward to seeing her impact in this new role.

Dean Wendt, dean of the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics (BCSM), will assume the role of interim associate vice provost of research. He will serve in this role through the next academic year or until a permanent appointment is made. Having previously served as Cal Poly’s dean of research, Dean brings a passion for scholarship, a high-level commitment to undergraduate research and a deep understanding of Cal Poly’s mission and values to the role. He has a strong record of securing external funding, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting the success of faculty, staff and students. He will continue to lead Bailey College while taking on these new responsibilities.

We’ve also engaged with Huron Consulting, a firm that specializes in higher education operations, to help guide our efforts. They will conduct a comprehensive review of our research administration processes and provide recommendations and best practices that align with Cal Poly’s needs and our Learn by Doing ethos. We will share updates about this work as it progresses.

Yesterday, Dean, Dawn and I had a chance to meet with the Department of Research to share these updates and answer questions. That team’s expertise and institutional knowledge will be invaluable as we move through these transitions.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication as our research office continues to support faculty, staff and students engaged in scholarship and creative activities at Cal Poly.

Sincerely, 

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

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. 

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. 

Winter 2025

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.

Fall 2024

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. 

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