Outstanding Faculty Advisor Builds a Legacy of Lasting Connections
For years after his students graduate, Alejandro “Alex” Morales receives messages from them. Some reach out to share life updates or invite him to their wedding. Others visit campus to catch up.
These little moments mean more to Morales than accolades, but at the same time, he feels honored to be acknowledged for his contributions. Morales recently was named the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences Outstanding Faculty Advisor for his impact on students.
“It's nice to be recognized,” he said, “it's nice that my colleagues, students and others see that I make a difference, you know? That the work that I do is actually meaningful and it has an impact on them.”
Since arriving at Cal Poly Pomona in 2013, Morales has built a reputation for student mentorship that extends far beyond course schedules and graduation requirements. As a psychology professor, as well as the McNair Scholars Program director and advisor, he approaches every student with the same guiding philosophy: treat them as whole individuals, a tenet he credits other advisors for inspiring.
“You have to address the whole person, not just the academic one,” he said.
His passion for advising stems from his own experience as a first-generation college student. Morales began his academic journey at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where mentors introduced him to research opportunities and graduate school possibilities he had never considered. After earning a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and working in Missouri, he joined Cal Poly Pomona, bringing a commitment to provide students with the guidance he once received.
“I wanted to do things that I wish some of my mentors would have done with me,” Morales said. For him, advising starts with a simple question: “Where is this person right now?”
Rather than pushing students toward predetermined paths, he focuses on understanding their goals, experiences, and challenges before helping them explore opportunities.
One former student stands out.
As a sophomore, the student was quiet, socially awkward and uncertain about his future. Morales encouraged him to join research projects, participate in McNair and pursue graduate school. The student excelled academically and eventually applied to doctoral programs. Despite receiving multiple interviews, he was initially rejected.
Rather than giving up, Morales and other mentors helped the student identify areas for growth and encouraged him to apply again. The following year, he received several offers and entered a Ph.D. program. Today, he is completing his doctoral program.
Stories like that are what makes the work worthwhile, Morales said. Watching students develop confidence and discover opportunities they never imagined for themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of his career. His commitment does not end when students graduate. Morales follows what he calls a “perpetual office hours” philosophy, encouraging former students to reach out long after they leave campus. Whether they need career advice, graduate school guidance or simply someone to talk to, he wants them to know his door remains open.
That lasting support reflects a larger belief about education, that student success depends on meaningful connections between faculty, advisors and campus resources. At its core, effective advising is not about awards, recognition, or job descriptions. It is about seeing students as people with aspirations, struggles, and potential, Morales said.
“You have to look at the whole person,” he said, “the whole story.”
Morales said he hopes the people he has helped become his legacy—through their stories and the role he got to play in their journey. For him, that legacy is already taking shape, one student, one conversation and one lasting connection at a time.