Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)
Workshop: Culturally Informed Strengths Approach to Supporting New and Newer Faculty Success
April 25, 2025 • 10:00am – 2:00pm (break for lunch)
Library 4th Floor Special Events Room
New faculty are a tremendous resource – and getting them to Cal Poly Pomona is a huge investment of time and funding! Helping early career faculty to succeed is one of the most important ways that senior faculty, department chairs, and college leaders can leverage the investment for the long term.
This interactive workshop, based on the CSU Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate’s Culturally Informed Strengths Approach (CISA) to early career faculty success, empowers senior faculty and leaders to help new faculty to thrive. Plus, participants will learn about their own strengths and cultural context.
Through a series of activities, reflections, and discussions, participants will: 1) Examine a CISA model that has effectively supported early career faculty in their journey to tenure & promotion, 2) become more aware of strengths-based thinking, 3) practice CISA coaching, and 4) consider strategies to foster a sense of belonging and a professional network for early career faculty in their departments or colleges.
CSU Alliance for Diversity in STEM
The Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at Cal Poly Pomona is working with collaborators from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), CSU Fresno, and CSU Dominguez Hills on a 5-year project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Alliance for Graduate Education & the Professoriate (AGEP) to support success for STEM faculty, including the social sciences.
We employ a culturally informed, strengths-based faculty development approach to support new faculty to bring their authentic selves to their roles. The program encourages new faculty to leverage their natural talents and strengths, embedded in social and cultural identities, to:
- Enhance teaching experience and effectiveness
- Increase research and grant activity
- Create a strong professional networking community
The program components include training for tenured STEM faculty coaches, culturally informed strengths coaching, retreats and web-based workshops, and peer coaching for newly hired faculty. The total award is $2.6 million over 5 years.
Cal Poly Pomona Grant Leadership
Victoria Bhavsar, Ph. D.
Director, Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE)Cal Poly Pomona PI
“Having a culturally informed strengths mindset helps me to be effective in supporting ALL faculty because I am keenly aware of the value of differences, and at the same time I have a consistent vocabulary to use across those differences. Also, approaching questions and problems from a strengths perspective helps me to stay energized when a situation is difficult -- it's such a breath of fresh air when approaching a problem to think first, "What's good here that we can build on?", rather than become engulfed in what is wrong.”
Victoria Bhavsar serves as the faculty director of the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She became certified as a Gallup Clifton Strengths coach in December 2019 and is the Cal Poly Pomona PI for the NSF-funded California State University AGEP (Alliance for Graduate Education & the Professoriate) Alliance for Diversity and Strengths of STEM Faculty; served as co-PI for the NSF-funded PASSION (Polytechnic for All: STEM Success via an Inclusive Institution) project; and serves as senior personnel for the NSF-funded INVESTS (Intentional Venture Engaging STEM Students) project. Her vision for faculty development at Cal Poly Pomona is that every faculty member on campus has access to a community of colleagues and scholars. Dr. Bhavsar's top five personal strengths are Input, Intellection, Relator, Responsibility, and Connectedness.
April Dawn, M.A.Ed.
Lead, Senior Instructional Designer & Faculty Development Consultant, Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE)Cal Poly Pomona Co-PI
“By blending my role as a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with the principles of culturally informed strengths-based coaching, my goal is to empower STEM faculty to be their authentic selves. With my own experience in faculty development, instructional design, and storytelling, I strive to help others harness their unique strengths—embracing the power of diverse perspectives to build a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable environment.”
April Dawn (she, her, hers) is the Lead, Senior Instructional Designer and Faculty Development Consultant for the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP). She is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and incorporates culturally informed strengths-based coaching into her role as Co-PI on the NSF-funded California State University AGEP (Alliance for Graduate Education & the Professoriate) Alliance for Diversity and Strengths of STEM Faculty. With nearly 29 years of experience in higher education, April specializes in faculty development, instructional design, strengths coaching, graphic design, educational multimedia, and photography. Her top five strengths are Achiever, Strategic, Futuristic, Responsibility, Ideation.
Monica Palomo, Ph.D.
Professor, Civil EngineeringCollege of Engineering Coach and CoPI
“I have always enjoyed supporting students and faculty in different ways, and I thought that it was just something fun that I liked to do. My participation with the AGEP team has immersed me in a journey that has allowed me to become cognizant of my natural strengths. What I used to informally call 'supporting others' has now become the active coaching approach that I am using deliberately to support the success and retention of underrepresented faculty in STEM. I am excited to be part of the multi-campus AGEP team that is promoting a culturally informed strengths mindset for personal and professional development across the CSU. I am grateful with CPP CAFE for inviting me to be part of this life time changing opportunity.”
Mónica Palomo has been a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering since fall 2008. She holds a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Guanajuato, México, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (both in Civil Engineering with Environmental emphasis) from Kansas State University. Through Cal Poly Pomona and professional associations, Mónica has been mentor/facilitator/coach in formal and informal mentoring programs to support the development of junior and mid-career faculty members. Her top 5 strengths are Achiever, Belief, Learner, Developer, and Connectedness.
Cal Poly Pomona Participants
Eeman At-Taras, 2022-23 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“Participating in the CSU AGEP program has empowered me to reflect on and use my own culturally informed strengths to succeed in reaching my goals in my academic and personal life.”
Eeman At-Taras is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Her research focuses on the effect of stress on reproduction, livestock production, and animal health. Currently she’s exploring the effect of fenugreek supplementation on hormones associated with stress and milk production in dairy cattle. Top 5 strengths are relator, responsibility, empathy, ideation, and developer.
Amy Dao, 2020-21 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“It’s been great to meet and exchange ideas with other CSU faculty who understand the nuances of being a person of color in the academy.”
Dr. Dao is a sociocultural anthropologist who studies the cultural dimensions of health and economic life. Her current project examines how people in Vietnam become motivated to join the government’s newly reformed health insurance program. Follow Amy on Twitter @amydao if you’re interested in anthropology, global health, or health policy. Her top 5 strengths are Individualization, Learner, Input, Developer, and Achiever.
Indira Guzman, 2022-23 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“I joined the CSU AGEP Alliance during my first year as a tenure-track faculty member at Cal Poly Pomona. While I was somewhat familiar with Cal Poly Pomona's welcoming culture from my experience as a part-time faculty member, I still felt uncertain about what to expect as a full-time faculty member. Participating in the AGEP program provided me with invaluable support, including two mentors from the CSU system who kindly met with me each month. Their consistent care and encouragement helped me feel seen and supported during this transition. I am especially grateful for the coaching sessions, which were instrumental in my professional development. Additionally, the training on culturally-informed strengths and identity helped me gain a deeper understanding of my own strengths and sense of identity. I had the opportunity to participate in two retreats, where I connected with other faculty members, and we engaged in meaningful discussions about our diverse strengths and identities. These open conversations validated my concerns and equipped me to better leverage my strengths moving forward. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the AGEP team for creating this opportunity for new faculty across the CSU system and to the coaches who generously shared their guidance!”
Dr. Indira Guzman is an Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity in Department of Computer Information Systems. She is the director of the Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation and the founding faculty advisor of the university’s Women in Tech (WIT) student organization at Cal Poly Pomona. She is a research consultant for ELLAS (Equality in Leadership for Latin American STEM), a project funded by the Canadian organization International Development Research Centre (IDRC). She received her Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology and a M.S. in Information Management as a Fulbright Scholar from Syracuse University. Her research focuses on responsible digital transformation, the gender gap in IT, behavioral information security, and IT occupational culture. Top 5 strengths are Ideation, Relator, Learner, Intellection, and Includer.
Stephanie Ann Serpas Jacobo, 2022-23 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“Strength-based living has helped me overcome adversity, in professional and personal realms of life. Empowering and encouraging students to rise above hardships so they can fulfill their dreams and tasks alike has always been a top prirority for me; I am more confident to lead in this way using my strengths, thanks to the support I received from the beautiful AGEP team.”
Stephanie has served Los Angeles and San Bernardino County communities as a Registered Dietitian since 2014. She earned her undergraduate degree and Dietetic Internship training at Cal Poly Pomona, and returned to CPP to earn her Masters in Nutrition Science (Go Broncos!). She currently leads Cal Poly's unique Service-Learning nutrition program, Estudiante de Dietética with an emphasis in Latino and Hispanic health and culture; She is Program Administrator and Lecturer, covering concepts such as medical nutrition therapy, nutrition education, food safety and nutrition counseling. Stephanie specializes in faith-forward, behavior change counseling for community members with diabetes, special needs and substance use disorders, and practices in clinical, community, faith-based and private practice settings. Top 5 strengths Strategic, Belief, Includer, Connectedness, Devleoper
Zakkoyya Lewis-Trammell, 2020-21 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“My experience with the AGEP grant has helped me realize how I can take ownership of my strengths in any setting, whether that be within my department, in the classroom, or in my personal life.”
Dr. Lewis-Trammell, Assistant Professor in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, is a first-generation college student with a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences. She is a certified athletic trainer (ATC), certified exercise physiologist (ACSM EP-C), and is credentialed in Exercise is Medicine. Her research combines exercise science with technology and health behavior science to promote physical activity among adults. Her top 5 strengths are Relator, Futuristic, Focus, Analytical, and Discipline.
Tatiane Lima, 2023 -24 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“The program has provided me with an opportunity to recognize and reflect on my strengths. It has opened my eyes to the fact that I do not need to work so hard to improve or "fix" my bottom strengths. Instead, I should continue to develop and leverage my top strengths in my professional and personal lives.”
Dr. Lima is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She teaches Issues in Health Equity and Cell and Molecular Biology. Her research program focuses on immunity to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and promotion of health equity. Her top 5 strengths are Learner, Restorative, Responsibility, Developer, and Achiever. Top 5 strengths are Learner, Restorative, Responsibility, Developer, and Achiever.
Brian Ramirez, 2020-21 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“The program has provided me with the opportunity to reflect on my strengths and how I can use them to become a more effective teacher and mentor!”
Dr. Ramirez is currently an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Before joining CPP, he was a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech and received his Ph.D. and Master's from UCLA and his Bachelor's from Cal Poly Pomona (Yes, he is a proud Bronco!), all in mechanical engineering. His top 5 strengths are Relator, Futuristic, Focus, Achiever, and Learner.
Sekani Robinson, 2022-23 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“AGEP provided me with a nice transition from student to professor. The program allowed me to imagine how I want to show up for myself and my students as a professor.”
Sekani Robinson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where she also received her Bachelor of Arts. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She writes on racial, gendered and cultural foundations and inequalities within creative and elite spaces, work and occupations, and aesthetic and emotional labor. Her current research focuses on Black women’s experiences in ballet. Sekani currently works as a researcher for a non-profit organization called Brown Girls Do Ballet. Top 5 strengths are Learner, Consistency, Maximizer, Individualization, and Input.
Priti Saxena, 2023 -24 ECF Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“Acknowledging my strengths has helped me focus on my professional goals and make informed career choices.”
Priti Saxena, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Plant Science Department, Huntley College of Agriculture. She is Director of Center for Turf, Irrigation and Landscape Technology and In-charge of Organic Tomato Breeding Program. She is interested in conducting research in water conservation and turfgrass management and collaborating with turfgrass and irrigation industry. In addition, she is leading student-centered breeding program for organic tomato for varietal development at Cal Poly Pomona. Top five strength are Intellection, Input, Futuristic, Strategic and Individualization.
Helen Trejo, 2020-21 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“It has been a great way to explore my strengths, how I have used them in the past, and how I can use them more effectively in the future.”
Dr. Helen Trejo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Apparel Merchandising & Management. She teaches textile science, apparel construction, and research courses. Her research explores the intersections of fibers, fashion, agriculture, technology, and economic development. She obtained her B.A. from UC Davis, her M.A., and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her top 5 strengths are Learner, Achiever, Maximizer, Analytical, and Responsibility.
Jeyoung Woo, 2023 -24 Early Career Faculty (ECF)
“The AGEP workshop was a valuable experience, allowing me to connect with faculty from other CSU campuses and learn from their practices. Hearing their perspectives provided insights I can apply to my own scholarly activities. Additionally, I gained a better understanding of how other faculty are supporting their students. Overall, the workshop was a refreshing opportunity for reflection and networking, leaving me with new ideas to enhance my role as a faculty member and researcher.”
Dr. Jeyoung Woo is an associate professor in Cal Poly Pomona's Department of Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Texas. He has worked in the construction industry for nine years as a project manager, a corporate quality manager, a field engineer, and a designer. His research interests are engineering education, construction labor productivity, and quality management. He is the Principal Investigator of the BRIDGE and CERTAIN Projects sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) and the co-PI of the STARS (Department of Education) and the CURE Projects (NSF). He earned a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) and a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Hanyang University, ERICA. He is a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Top 5 strengths are Futuristic, Learner, Discipline, Includer, and Activator.
2024 AGEP Retreat
The 2024 AGEP Retreat was held at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California. The 20024 Retreat invited all current and previous cohorts to come together and reflect upon their experiences in the AGEP program through community-building, networking, and resource sharing.
2023 AGEP Retreat
The 2023 AGEP Retreat was held on our own Cal Poly Pomona campus. The 2023 Retreat allowed participants in the 2022-2023 cohort to reflect upon their experiences, participants in the upcoming 2023-2024 cohort gathered for a strong start for their program, and it brought participants from all cohorts together for community-building, networking, and resource sharing.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants: 1916046, 1916050, 1916054 and 1916056. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.