Professor Lydia Chen Shah, a faculty member in the College of Business Administration, has been appointed the interim director of the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) within the Office of Academic Innovation.

With an extensive background in academia and a commitment to community engagement, Professor Chen Shah is set to make a significant impact on the university's outreach efforts.

"Participating in community engagement has the power to transform how students view future career paths. The unique and intentional experiences change mindsets and behaviors. Along with meaningful relationships, they lead to opportunities for sustainable development and shared purpose," said Chen Shah.

Chen Shah's journey at Cal Poly Pomona has been marked by her dedication to service learning and community engagement. For the past three years, she has been a faculty associate in the CCE, leading the Service Learning/Community Engaged Learning Faculty Fellows Program.

In addition to her work at the CCE, Chen Shah has established herself as a leader in the field of marketing and advertising. Since joining the Department of International Business and Marketing in 2012, she has played a pivotal role in designing and teaching specialized courses, including Sustainable Development in Marketing, Consumer Insights into Reducing Inequality, and Digital Marketing.

She also was at the forefront of designing and delivering service-learning courses like "Rock Your Future / Social Impact & Nonprofit Marketing" and "Real-World Marketing," both of which received the prestigious PolyX designation.

Her commitment to advancing equity, access, and civic engagement is exemplified by her selection for the inaugural cohort of Campus Compact's Western Region 2019-2020 Engaged Scholar Initiative, where she co-created knowledge and practices for these essential areas. She also earned an equity and inclusion credential from Campus Compact, further highlighting her dedication to these crucial principles.

Notably, Chen Shah is an alumna of Cal Poly Pomona, having received her Bachelor of Science in marketing management with a concentration in advertising. She continued her education by earning an MBA in marketing and management from Loyola Marymount University and obtaining certification from the international graduate program Groupe ESC Troyes, France, Graduate School of Management.

Her appointment follows the departure of Bryant Fairley, who served as the CCE director and interim director for the past four years. Chen Shah will take on the interim role until a permanent director is appointed.