Appointment of Frances Teves as Interim Vice President of University Advancement

February 27, 2023

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Earlier this month, I shared that Vice President for University Advancement Dan Montplaisir is leaving Cal Poly Pomona to take on an executive leadership position with a university in Gujarat, India. I am pleased to share that Frances Teves, who currently serves as Associate Vice President for Government and External Affairs, will assume the role of Interim Vice President for University Advancement, effective Monday, March 6. 

I have the utmost confidence that Ms. Teves is well positioned to lead the division and continue to advance the success of our philanthropic efforts. She has led Cal Poly Pomona’s government and external affairs activities since joining the campus in 2017. As Associate Vice President, she secured more than $20 million in federal funding to support university initiatives and serves as the primary legislative liaison to local, county, state and federal officials. Since 2019, Teves has also led the university’s pandemic response efforts as the Coordinator of the Safer Return Task Force. In this essential role, she has facilitated the implementation of mandated COVID-19 safety protocols and informed the campus of public health orders and guidance. 

Ms. Teves has over 25 years of professional experience in non-profit and higher education institutions, including 20 years of service to the CSU, primarily in University Advancement. Prior to joining our campus, she served as the Chief of Operations for University Advancement at California State University, Fullerton. She managed the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and oversaw a number of presidential initiatives.

In her new role as Interim Vice President, Ms. Teves will retain oversight of Government and External Affairs, and the office will temporarily move under Advancement. We are developing a plan to institutionalize the Safer Return functions, which will transition out of being one of her primary responsibilities.  

With an internal, divisional assessment already in progress this spring that will influence the specific attributes we seek in the permanent Vice President position, Ms. Teves will remain in this interim role for approximately a year before we launch a formal search in spring 2024.

The role of philanthropy is more important than ever in helping to advance our strategic priorities and sustaining the university. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Teves to this interim role, where she is sure to make a positive impact.

Sincerely,

Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President