Cal Poly Pomona Executive and Leadership Team

Michelle Cardona, the Interim Vice President, Administration Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Cal Poly Pomona, manages the fiscal health and budgetary operations of the institution. Cardona oversees the allocation of resources across academic departments and administrative units to ensure alignment with the university mission. By directing financial planning and analysis, the Interim Vice President, Administration Finance & Chief Financial Officer maintains long-term economic stability for the university. This leadership role involves monitoring revenue streams from extension programs and state funding to optimize operational expenditures. Michelle Cardona executes rigorous financial reporting standards to ensure transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. By collaborating with the executive team, the Interim Vice President, Administration Finance & Chief Financial Officer supports strategic growth initiatives that enhance campus facilities and student services. Cardona drives fiscal accountability through the implementation of efficient procurement processes. The Interim Vice President, Administration Finance & Chief Financial Officer secures the financial resources necessary for institutional advancement.

Vanya Quiñones, the President at Cal Poly Pomona, provides the overarching strategic vision and leadership for the entire university. Quiñones directs the academic mission, fostering an environment of research excellence and student-centered learning. By engaging with external stakeholders and regional partners, the President expands the influence of the university within the Californian higher education sector. This leadership role involves setting institutional priorities that guide faculty recruitment and curriculum development. Vanya Quiñones oversees the implementation of long-term growth strategies that enhance the reputation of the university. By chairing the executive cabinet, the President ensures that all administrative functions support the core educational objectives. Quiñones drives initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across the campus community. The President maintains strong relationships with the board and community leaders to secure support for institutional projects. Through decisive leadership, the President guides the university toward achieving its goals for academic and social impact.

Bonnie Thorne, the CFA Chapter President at Cal Poly Pomona, represents the interests of faculty members within the California Faculty Association. Thorne facilitates communication between the faculty body and university administration to address labor concerns and academic working conditions. By advocating for equitable compensation and professional support, the CFA Chapter President ensures that faculty needs remain a priority in institutional decision-making. This leadership role involves organizing collective bargaining efforts and maintaining adherence to the faculty contract. Bonnie Thorne drives collaborative discussions regarding academic policy and governance to improve the teaching environment. By fostering unity among faculty members, the CFA Chapter President strengthens the collective voice of the academic staff. Thorne monitors the implementation of university policies to ensure fairness for all members. The CFA Chapter President supports the professional development of faculty through active engagement with the administration. Through consistent advocacy, the CFA Chapter President maintains a productive relationship between the faculty and the university leadership.

Kathleen Harcharik, the President, Pace Setters at Cal Poly Pomona, leads the organization dedicated to supporting retired faculty and staff. Harcharik coordinates programs that maintain the connection between the university and its emeritus community. By organizing events and networking opportunities, the President, Pace Setters facilitates the continued involvement of retirees in the life of the institution. This leadership role involves managing communication channels to keep the retired community informed about university developments. Kathleen Harcharik drives initiatives that recognize the contributions of former employees to the history and success of the university. By fostering a sense of community among retirees, the President, Pace Setters ensures that the legacy of the institution remains vibrant. Harcharik collaborates with university advancement teams to integrate the retired community into fundraising and outreach efforts. The President, Pace Setters maintains the institutional memory by preserving the relationships between the university and its long-standing members.

Nicholas Glahn, the California Faculty Association Chapter President at Cal Poly Pomona, manages the local chapter operations for the faculty union. Glahn oversees the representation of faculty members in grievances and contract negotiations to ensure the protection of academic rights. By directing the activities of the chapter, the California Faculty Association Chapter President promotes transparency in administrative dealings. This leadership role involves analyzing university budget allocations to ensure that faculty resources are adequately funded. Nicholas Glahn drives engagement among faculty by hosting forums and informational sessions regarding labor rights. By coordinating with state-level union leadership, the California Faculty Association Chapter President aligns local efforts with broader advocacy goals. Glahn monitors the impact of university policies on teaching loads and research support. The California Faculty Association Chapter President maintains a strong presence in campus governance to advocate for the interests of the academic staff. Through active representation, the California Faculty Association Chapter President secures favorable outcomes for the faculty.

Shalia Khovananth, the Chi Epsilon President at Cal Poly Pomona, leads the student chapter of the civil engineering honor society. Khovananth coordinates professional development activities and networking events that connect engineering students with industry leaders. By overseeing the induction of new members, the Chi Epsilon President ensures the maintenance of high academic standards within the department. This leadership role involves organizing community service projects that apply engineering principles to real-world challenges. Shalia Khovananth drives collaboration between students and faculty to promote excellence in civil engineering education. By managing chapter finances and event logistics, the Chi Epsilon President supports the operational needs of the student organization. Khovananth fosters a culture of leadership and integrity among the engineering student body. The Chi Epsilon President facilitates workshops that prepare students for professional certification and career advancement. Through dedicated leadership, the Chi Epsilon President enhances the academic and professional profile of the engineering program.

Debra Brum, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Cal Poly Pomona, directs the digital infrastructure and academic technology systems supporting the university mission. Brum architects scalable cloud solutions and enterprise software integrations that facilitate seamless learning environments for students and faculty. By managing the university data architecture, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer ensures robust connectivity across all campus departments. This leadership role involves aligning technological investments with the long-term strategic goals of the institution. Through the implementation of advanced cybersecurity protocols, Brum protects sensitive research data and administrative records. The Vice President & Chief Information Officer collaborates with academic leadership to integrate digital tools into the classroom experience. By optimizing internal workflows, Brum drives operational efficiency throughout the university. Ultimately, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer maintains the technological foundation necessary for academic success in a competitive higher education market.

John McGuthry, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Cal Poly Pomona, oversees the strategic deployment of campus-wide hardware and network communications. McGuthry manages the lifecycle of instructional technology assets, ensuring that classrooms remain equipped with modern tools for student engagement. By focusing on the expansion of high-speed network capacity, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer supports the growing demand for remote and hybrid learning models. This leadership role requires constant coordination with administrative units to streamline digital service delivery. McGuthry prioritizes the modernization of legacy systems to improve user accessibility for the entire campus community. Through the oversight of technical support teams, the Vice President & Chief Information Officer ensures high availability for critical university services. John McGuthry drives innovation by evaluating emerging educational technologies that enhance the overall student experience. The Vice President & Chief Information Officer maintains the integrity of the university network infrastructure.

Carolyn Gonzales, the Assistant Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology Security Compliance & Chief People Officer at Cal Poly Pomona, leads the dual mandate of digital security and human capital management. Gonzales architects comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard university assets against evolving threats. By overseeing information technology security compliance, the Assistant Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology Security Compliance & Chief People Officer ensures that all digital operations adhere to strict regulatory standards. This leadership role also involves managing talent acquisition and employee development programs to foster a high-performing workforce. Carolyn Gonzales drives organizational culture by implementing policies that support staff retention and professional growth. By integrating security awareness into human resources training, the Assistant Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology Security Compliance & Chief People Officer creates a culture of vigilance. Gonzales aligns personnel strategies with the broader operational needs of the university.