Messages from the Office of the Provost

4/1/25 - A Message from Acting Provost Dr. Lynnette Zelezny

Dear Cal Poly Faculty and Academic Affairs Staff, 

I am honored to serve as your Acting Provost and Executive Vice President during this transitional period. My entire professional career has been in service to the California State University system, and as a CSU alumna, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of public higher education. Cal Poly’s reputation for innovation, hands-on learning, and student achievement is well known, and I am excited and proud to be part of this incredible community. 

In my time here, my focus will be on continuity, connection, and collaboration—making sure that the important work of supporting our students, faculty, and staff remains steadfast. While leadership transitions can bring uncertainty, they also provide opportunities to reinforce our shared values and commitment to academic excellence and student success.  

I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore for her leadership as Provost. Her dedication to this institution and its mission has been invaluable, setting us up for success as we move forward and address the many significant initiatives ahead. 

As we prepare for the return of Dr. Al Liddicoat as Interim Provost, I look forward to working alongside you all to ensure a seamless transition and a continued focus on advancing the university’s mission. In the weeks ahead, I hope to meet many of you and hear your thoughts on how we can continue to build on Cal Poly’s strong foundation together. 

Thank you for your commitment to this university and for the warm welcome I have already received. 

With appreciation, 

Dr. Lynnette Zelezny 
Acting Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

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.