About the President Select

Vanya Quiñones, Ph.D., was appointed by the California State University Board of Trustees to serve as the future president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, beginning in July 2026. Dr. Quiñones currently serves as the fourth president of California State University, Monterey Bay, where her leadership has centered on student success in graduation and beyond, strengthening institutional excellence and positioning the university as a model for public higher education.

She is widely recognized as a transformational leader who enhances institutional effectiveness and sustainability. Dr. Quiñones has guided campuses through financial challenges to achieve fiscal maturity, elevated national rankings, increased external funding and strengthened enrollment and retention outcomes. Her leadership is grounded in disciplined stewardship, strategic growth and alignment of resources with mission-driven priorities.

A neurobiologist and biopsychologist, Dr. Quiñones is a distinguished scholar with more than 300 publications and professional presentations, including 70 peer-reviewed journal articles. She was among the pioneering scientists who described gender differences in the brain, shaping the direction of neuroscience research. Across more than three decades in higher education, she has expanded research infrastructure, secured significant extramural support and broadened research opportunities for students and faculty alike.

Dr. Quiñones’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to experiential education and the values of applied learning central to PolyX. She champions learning by doing, integrating research, internships, community partnerships and industry collaborations into the educational experience to prepare students for civic and professional leadership.

Throughout her career, she has overseen university-wide student success initiatives that increased retention and graduation rates, modernized curricula, expanded academic programs and strengthened pathways from community colleges and high schools. She is known for cultivating partnerships that enhance applied learning opportunities and support workforce development, advancing both student outcomes and regional prosperity.

Dr. Quiñones has advanced equity, transparency, and institutional trust through collaborative governance; expanded student and faculty engagement and strengthened campus-wide processes that elevate accountability and shared purpose.

In February 2026, she received the ACE Fidelity Transformational Leadership Award in recognition of her leadership in advancing inclusive excellence, institutional innovation and measurable student success outcomes.

Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and raised in San Juan, Dr. Quiñones earned her bachelor of science degree in biology and master of science degree in cell biology from the University of Puerto Rico and her doctorate in neurobiology and physiology from Rutgers University. She completed postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University.

President Quiñones enjoys hiking, running, and weightlifting; describes herself as a soccer fan; volunteers with homeless populations and serves on the board of a homeless shelter.