Beginning Our Next Chapter Together

(Video)

Dear Cal Poly Pomona Community,

I am honored to join Cal Poly Pomona as its eighth president and to become part of the Bronco family. As I begin this journey, I wanted to introduce myself and share how grateful I am for the opportunity to serve this extraordinary university.

Before anything else, please call me Vanya. I believe that strong communities are built on trust, connection, and genuine relationships. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff member, alumnus, or community partner, I hope you will feel comfortable introducing yourself and sharing your story when our paths cross. We are now part of the same Bronco family, and I look forward to getting to know you.

For many years, I admired Cal Poly Pomona's commitment to student success, upward mobility, innovation, inclusion, and experiential learning. During the presidential search process, I had the opportunity to meet members of this community and quickly realized that the university's values, aspirations, and dedication to students closely aligned with my own. The passion, talent, and commitment I encountered confirmed that Cal Poly Pomona is a truly special place, and I knew I wanted to be part of its future.

As I begin my presidency, my first priority will be listening and learning. Through your experiences and perspectives, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Cal Poly Pomona's history, culture, and vision for the future. I want to learn what makes this university exceptional, understand the opportunities and challenges ahead, and hear your ideas for how we can continue building upon its many strengths. The university's success has always been built through collaboration, and I am committed to fostering an environment where every member of our community feels valued, respected, and heard. Your perspective will also help shape our shared priorities and inform the next chapter of our university as we build upon our strengths, embrace new opportunities, and advance our mission together.

To support that effort, I am launching a 100-Day Listening Tour across campus and throughout our broader community. I look forward to meeting with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community partners to learn more about your experiences, aspirations, and hopes for the future of Cal Poly Pomona. At the conclusion of my Listening Tour, I will share with the campus community what I have learned, the key themes that emerged from our conversations, and how those insights will inform our shared priorities and goals, helping guide my first year as president and our path forward together. I hope you will join me on October 8th in the University Quad for a celebration of our first 100 days together. 

The future of Cal Poly Pomona is bright. Together, we have an opportunity to build upon an extraordinary foundation, strengthen our impact, expand opportunities for students, and continue advancing our mission as California's premier polytechnic university. 
I am optimistic about what we can accomplish together and eager to begin this work alongside you. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks and months ahead.

With gratitude and Bronco pride,

Vanya Quiñones, Ph.D.
President