Dean's Office Directory
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Dean
Philip Williams
He/Him/His
Bldg. 47, Room 31
805-756-2706
Email Dean Williams
Philip Williams began his role as dean of Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts in August 2019. Previously, he served as director of the Center for Latin American Studies and Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida. He was also Co-Partnership Director for the Colombia-U.S. Human Rights Law School Program and co-directed the Program for Immigration, Religion, and Social Change (PIRSC). Williams holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Latin American Studies and Doctor of Philosophy in politics from the University of Oxford in 1986.
He is co-author of "Living "Illegal": The Human Face of Unauthorized Immigration (The New Press, 2011), "Militarization and Demilitarization in El Salvador's Transition to Democracy" (University of Pittsburgh 1997),The Catholic Church and Politics in Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Macmillan 1989), and co-editor of "A Place to Be: Brazilian, Guatemalan, and Mexican Immigrants in Florida’s New Destinations" (Rutgers University Press, 2009) and of Christianity, Globalization, and Social Change in the Americas (Rutgers University 2001).
Williams earned a number of prestigious fellowships and grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, Fulbright, National Science Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Tinker Foundation, United States Agency for International Development, United States Department of Education, United States Institute of Peace, and United States Department of State.
Associate Dean for Administration
Debra Valencia-Laver
She/Her/Hers
Bldg. 47, Room 31
805-756-2359
Email Debra Valencia-Laver
Associate Dean for Student Success
Penny Bennett
She/Her/Hers
Bldg. 47, Room 31
805-756-2359
Email Penny Bennett
Associate Dean for Diversity and Curriculum
Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti
She/Her/Hers
Bldg. 47, Room 31
805-756-2359
Email Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti
Director of International Initiatives
Josh Machamer
He/Him/His
Bldg. 45, Room 104
805-756-5560
Email Josh Machamer
Director of Research Engagement
Dawn Neill
She/Her/Hers
Bldg. 47, Room 23C
805-756-6046
Email Dawn Neill
| STAFF | Name & Title | Office | CONTACT | Pronouns |
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Administrative Support |
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Receptionist Heidi Velasco |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-2359
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she/her/hers |
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Assistant to the Dean Lynne Ricard |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-2706
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she/her/hers |
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Faculty Contracts Analyst Margie Valine |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-7678
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Evaluations Process Analyst Melissa Bodin |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-2337
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she/her/hers |
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Finance and Budget Analyst Joy Sisler |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-5755
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she/her/hers |
College Advisors |
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Lead Academic Advisor Sabrina Canady |
Bldg. 47, Room 22B |
805-756-6200
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she/her/hers |
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Academic Advisor Katie Harris |
Bldg. 47, Room 22B |
805-756-6200
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she/her/hers |
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Multicultural Academic Advisor Alejandra Cebreros |
Bldg. 47, Room 22B |
805-756-6200
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she/her/hers |
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Bldg. 47, Room TBD | email Alec Koehler | he/him/his | |
Development Office |
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Assistant Dean for Development Adam Jarman |
Bldg. 47, Rm. 31 |
805-756-6776
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Administrative Coordinator Debi Schwartz |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-6246
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she/her/hers |
College Communications |
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Communication Specialist Rachel Schultz |
Bldg. 47, Room 22J |
805-756-1216
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she/her/hers |
CLA Tech Support |
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Computer and Technology Support Jennifer Hodges |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-1252
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Computer and Technology Support Jeff Yeackle |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-1252
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Computer and Technology Support Scott Kraczek |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-1252
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Computer and Technology Support |
Bldg. 47, Room 31 |
805-756-1252
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