Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

California State University, Chico; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Pomona seeks a Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs to serve as the chief academic officer, reporting to the President and joining the cabinet. The Provost will guide the integration of teaching, research, and career readiness across eight colleges and multiple partnerships.

The ideal candidate holds an earned doctorate, brings extensive institutional leadership, and will lead a polytechnic approach to learning, strengthening experiential education and industry collaboration

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Significant leadership experience in higher education and academic administration.
• Strong record of teaching, scholarship, and tenure credentials.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the university's academic programs, including instruction and research.
• Lead strategic planning and institutional transformation in alignment with 2030 goals.
• Engage with faculty, Deans, and stakeholders to advance student success and workforce readiness.
• Advance experiential learning through partnerships and industry engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic vision

Change management

Education

Earned doctorate or terminal degree

Job description

Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Job no: 563221
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Pomona
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time

The Provost is the chief academic officer of the university, overseeing all academic programs, including instruction and research. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the President’s Cabinet, the Provost will join Cal Poly Pomona at a moment of significant opportunity and transformation.

Under the leadership of newly appointed President Vanya Quiñones , the university is pursuing an ambitious vision for 2030: preparing every graduate for career success, workforce leadership, and economic mobility; modernizing university operations; strengthening the institution’s visibility and market position; and investing in the people, culture and innovation that make this mission possible. Guided by CSU Forward , the California State University’s 2025 strategic plan, Cal Poly Pomona offers the opportunity to help shape the future of an influential polytechnic university and advance access, excellence, innovation, and student success.

As the university enters its next phase of growth, the Provost, alongside campus leaders, will help advance efforts to better connect academics, career readiness, and industry engagement. The Provost will also help develop a nationally distinctive, integrated approach to student success, connecting academics and career support in ways that meet the needs of all CPP students, including first-generation, transfer, commuter, and working students. A particular area of opportunity is strengthening experiential learning through expanded employer partnerships, paid internships, and cooperative education that takes advantage of Southern California’s rich industry ecosystem. The Provost will work alongside an accomplished group of permanent deans and a strong leadership team to advance its polytechnic approach to learning and help position the university to meet the evolving needs of students, employers, and the State of California.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University system and among 11 such institutions nationwide. It has offered a unique education rooted in experiential learning since its founding in 1938. Today, the university serves over 27,000 students who are taught and mentored by more than 2,250 faculty and staff across eight academic colleges. The university also provides community access to degree completion, professional development, and lifelong learning opportunities through the College of Professional and Global Education. The university’s colleges and programs span the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, agriculture, business, education, and professional disciplines.

Cal Poly Pomona has consistently ranked as the No. 1 polytechnic university in the nation for promoting social mobility. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a university deeply connected to the communities it serves, CPP plays a critical role in developing California’s future workforce and preparing graduates to contribute to the economic vitality of the region and state. The University takes pride in its No. 2 position among top public regional universities in the West and its recognition as the No. 3 best value school in the West by U.S. News & World Report. While each ranking is a snapshot of achievement, taken collectively, they provide a picture of an institution whose students graduate with the skills needed to succeed in a dynamic and evolving work environment. These successes are similarly marked by CPP’s accrediting body, WSCUC, which awarded a maximum 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation in 2019 and a successful mid-cycle review in 2023-2024.

Given this context, the incoming Provost must demonstrate a strong track record as both a successful teacher-scholar and an experienced institutional leader, possessing the academic, financial, operational, and strategic acumen necessary to lead the academic mission of a complex enterprise. The ideal candidate will hold an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution and exhibit a distinguished record of teaching and scholarship, warranting appointment at Cal Poly Pomona as a full professor with tenure. Moreover, the candidate should have substantial, progressive academic management experience and a proven track record of success advancing institutional priorities and effectively leading and managing change, along with the vision and ability to help move CPP forward. The Provost will be tasked with addressing the following opportunities and challenges:

• Shape the future of polytechnic education through Cal Poly Pomona’s next chapter of transformation;
• Unite the academic enterprise around excellence, innovation, and institutional purpose;
• Expand CPP’s research enterprise and strengthen its supporting infrastructure;
• Continue to build a talented, engaged, and forward-looking community of teachers, scholars, learners, and alumni;
• Develop an integrated approach to student success and advance cooperative education;
• Align resources, strategy, and investment to accelerate institutional impact; and
• Elevate Cal Poly Pomona’s influence as America’s leading public polytechnic university.

David Bellshaw and Joe Kralick are leading this search with Leslie Lemus and Cara Meyers.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers. Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future. As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California. The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. For more information, go to the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy .

Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check). The conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. In determining the suitability of the candidate for the position, Cal Poly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to any information that the applicant submits for consideration regarding the criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity and recency of the conviction, the candidate’s conduct, performance or rehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of the job applied for. For more information, go to the CSU Background Check Policy .

CSU Classification Salary Range

This position is part of the Management Personnel Plan bargaining unit (MPP). The CSU Classification Standards for this position are located on the CSU Classification Standards website. The CSU Salary Schedule is located on the CSU Salary Schedule website. Please refer to the anticipated hiring range for the appropriate salary rate for this particular position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. For more information, go to the Acceptable I-9 website .

University Driving Requirements

Positions that require driving for university business by using a personal or state vehicle must comply with the Authorized University Driver Policy. Driving records are monitored and evaluated by the Risk Management Department. The Risk Management Department evaluates a good driving report based on the following criteria. The driver must: 1. Have a valid California or other State Driver’s license. 2. Have no more than 3 motor vehicle violations or been the cause of 3 accidents in a 12-month period (or any combination of 3 thereof) 3. Not have more than 3 DMV Points, if their license is Class C or, 4. Not have more than 5 DMV Points, if their license is Class A, B, or C with endorsements. For more information, go to the Authorized University Driver Policy .

Conflict of Interest

This position is a “designated position” in the California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file financial interest disclosure forms subject to state regulations. For more information, go to the CSU's Conflict of Interest Policy .

Executive and Management Plan Personnel employees must disclose all current outside employment at the time of hire as a precondition of hire and at the following times after hire: annually in July, within 30 days of accepting outside employment, and upon their manager’s request. For more information, go to the Outside Employment Disclosure Policy .

Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. See policy at the Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting policy .

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. For more information, see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision poster .

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at [e-mail] . For more information, go to Employment Notices .

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and requests priority referral of protected veterans for our job openings.

Advertised: Oct 15 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: