creating opportunities for experiential learning, discovery and innovation. I love being part of the Cal Poly Pomona community because Cal Poly Pomona is a place where I can deploy my superpower to pursue my passion of empowering students to pursue their dreams. I enjoy travelling, going to new places, meeting new people and eating new foods.

What is your bucket list travel goals?

• My bucket list is to visit every continent, every state in the U.S. and most countries. I am still working on it…

5 Questions with Dr. Olukemi Sawyerr

My passion in higher education lies in imagining what is possible, then creating and growing programs to achieve their mission and vision. Beyond the ability to create buy-in and solicit funding, my track record shows that I create organizational structures that are sustainable and data-driven. Of the 8 programs and offices I founded, 6 have been institutionalized.

I am particularly committed to fostering an inclusive environment that encourages and supports the growth of everyone, especially those who have been traditionally under-served. To that end, I have secured over $20 million in grants to support student and faculty development.

What is your favorite animal?

• I love dogs. Cats not so much.

Where in the world do you wish you could work remotely for week?

• Paris, Munich, Alaska, Hawaii, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Grand Canyon North Rim, Glacier National Park, basically anywhere!

Who is your real-life hero and why?

• Anyone who is kind and tells the truth.

I am a passionate advocate for engineering education and student success. I have dedicated my career to empowering students to reach their full potential and become exceptional engineers. I have also worked in various academic and industry settings, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing engineering students. Let’s make it happen together!

What is your go-to comfort food?

• Texas-style BBQ. Barbeque with a long, slow smoke is my ultimate comfort food. I love to cook it low and slow so that the meat is so tender that it practically falls off the bone. Brisket is my absolute favorite cut of meat for barbeque, but I also love beef/baby back ribs and pulled pork.

What is your favorite hobby?

• My favorite hobby is golf. I enjoy the challenge of the game and the beautiful scenery of the golf courses. I also enjoy the social aspect of the game and the opportunity to meet new people.

I am the Analyst for the Office of Academic Innovation. I am interested in Public Administration and Sociology. I enjoy spending time with family, while traveling to places we have never been to. 

What superpower would you want to have? 

• The power to have a healing ability 

 Where in the world do you wish you could work remote for a week? 

• Maldives 

 What is your favorite food? 

• Hawaiian Food

Where in the world do you wish you could work remotely for a week? 

• Bali, Indonesia!

What is your favorite food?

• Japanese food.

What are your passions?

• Traveling, reading, cooking, and shopping for records.

What are your passions?

• I love to draw and paint a lot in my free time, whenever I’m able I love drawing for hours straight. I usually carry a sketchbook around me to doodle and sketch ideas I have for future illustrations. I love watching movies too! I’m always looking forward to watching new movies in theaters and collecting DVDs.

What movie do you recommend? 

• A favorite movie of mine that I think anybody could enjoy would be Only Yesterday from Studio Ghibli, it’s wholesome, funny, and relatable!

What is your favorite food?

• Although I’m lactose intolerant, I love flan! Especially Choco flan which is a combination of chocolate cake and flan. Pupusas are a close second favorite as well.

Hi! I'm Britt, a Graduate Student Assistant at the Office of Academic Innovation, currently pursuing a Master's in Landscape Architecture here at CPP.  

What's Your Role at The Office of Academic Innovation?

• I'm responsible for assisting the AI Team with coordinating and executing meetings and events, finding the best options for CPP AI swag giveaways, and other miscellaneous tasks around the office to ensure that the program is running smoothly.

What Are Your Passions?

• I am an avid acrylic painter and tend to lean towards surrealism and abstract styles. I've shown my art at several shows in Downtown Pomona and Ontario and am looking forward to selling prints again at more events. I'd love to eventually create my own garden plot with plants I can turn into paints and dyes so that my work is more environmentally friendly.

What Do You Do Outside of Work?

• Outside of work, I enjoy going on long walks and finding new parks to explore. There are so many beautiful green spaces out there! I also recently got a movie pass because I love going to the movie theatre so often.

• I’ve always wanted to visit Japan, although I think working remotely might be hard when I’m trying to see all of the sights!

• I love baking and sharing what I make, like cookies and muffins, and playing video games like Valorant and Minecraft. In the mornings, I also try to hike or get some Beat Saber in for fitness.

• I think everyone should watch It’s Such a Beautiful Day by Don Hertzfeldt. The movie is only an hour long, but it really leaves a lasting impact. I won’t say what it’s about, though — it’s better to go into the film blind!

Hello, I'm Josue or Josh, a Web Designer at the Office of Academic Innovation. I strive to create websites that aren't just visually appealing but are also user-centric. My journey started at Cal Poly Pomona, where I earned my degree in Computer Information Systems, specializing in Web and App Development. Now, I'm here to bring a blend of creativity and technical skill to the academic landscape.

• I'm responsible for designing visually compelling and functional websites that align with our academic goals, enhancing the overall user experience.

• I love video games, particularly in the sci-fi and horror genres. Coffee and podcasts also hold a special place in my life. Being an early adopter of new tech trends keeps my skills sharp and my excitement levels high.

• My skill set spans a variety of technologies in both web design and web development. I have experience with design tools like Figma and Photoshop and am proficient in platforms such as WordPress and Webflow. On the development side, I specialize in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. For mobile development, I have a keen interest in Dart and UI frameworks like Flutter, an open source framework that allows for building visually rich and functional applications.

• The culture of innovation here is truly invigorating. I love being part of a team that continually seeks ways to push academic excellence and deliver meaningful educational experiences.

• Outside of work, I enjoy hitting the gym with my personal trainer Kevin and diving into the world of sci-fi and horror movies. Another fun activity I love is urban exploration, where I go on mini-adventures to discover hidden gems in the city.

• I have a small collection of programmable robots, and my favorite one is named Cozmo!

Hello! I'm Erika and I'm a 4th year Computer Science student at Cal Poly Pomona. Nice to meet you!

What's your role at the Office of Academic Innovation?

• I help design and maintain websites that not only serve as an informative resource on academic and career opportunities, but provide a user-friendly and accessible experience for users.

What are your passions?

• I enjoy playing and listening to music. I play the violin and ukulele, and the main music genres I listen to are R&B and k-pop.
• I also love to bake. My favorite thing to bake are cakes and cookies, but if I were to choose it would be ube crinkles!
• I love to travel with family and friends. I'm planning to go back to Japan with friends in 2025 :D!

What is your favorite food?

• I crave Japanese food often, especially hamburg steak.
• Matcha lattes! I enjoy making them and have yet to try different matcha powders.

What do you do outside work?

• I go out with friends and family to eat, really. Some places we'll probably be at are Boiling Crab, BCD Tofu House or 37.2 Degrees. If not, we're getting boba!