Frances Teves Named VP for University Advancement
Frances Teves has been appointed vice president for University Advancement at Cal Poly Pomona following a national search.
Teves, who was interim vice president since March 2023, brings 25 years of experience in nonprofit and higher education institutions. She joined Cal Poly Pomona in 2017 and has led the university’s government and external affairs activities, most recently as associate vice president for government and external affairs.
As vice president, Teves will work with university leaders, faculty, staff and the campus community to establish strong relationships with stakeholders, strengthen ties with the local community and donors, and foster and build community among alumni. Her position also includes service as the Chief Executive Officer for the CPP Philanthropic Foundation.
“With her strong relationship-building skills and deep commitment to our campus community, Ms. Teves embodies our Cal Poly Pomona’s promise to transform student’s dreams into reality. We are so excited to begin this next chapter with her at the helm of our University Advancement team,” President Soraya M. Coley said.
Teves will lead multiple units within the University Advancement division, including advancement services, major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, alumni and external relations, corporate and foundation relations, special events and projects, and government and external affairs.
As the interim vice president, Teves’ leadership and partnership with university leaders helped the university meet fundraising goals, such as more than 80 percent of the target annual fundraising goal before the end of the fiscal third quarter.
“I am deeply honored to lead University Advancement in building and strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, and the community in service to our mission of student success. Cal Poly Pomona’s distinct polytechnic identity, hands-on learning approach, and history founded on the legacy of giving, positions the university for continued greatness. I look forward to working in partnership with the campus community to propel the University to new heights,” Teves said.
In leading the government and external affairs team, Teves served as the university’s primary legislative liaison to local, county, state and federal officials. She helped secure more than $20 million in federal congressional funding to develop and revitalize campus laboratories and $1 million to re-establish a CPP hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in downtown Pomona. She collaborated with three other CSU agricultural campuses to secure $75 million in state support for initiatives across the four partner institutions.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted campus operations in 2020, Teves led the university’s response efforts as the chair of the Safer Return Task Force, working across departments and divisions to address public health guidelines, requirements and university support resources. She also helped coordinate the regional mass vaccination hub on campus in February 2021, in partnership with a health consortium that included Kaiser Permanente.
Teves has more than 25 years of professional experience in nonprofit and higher education institutions, including 20 years of service to the CSU, primarily in University Advancement. Prior to joining our campus, she served as the chief of operations for University Advancement at California State University, Fullerton. She managed the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and oversaw a number of presidential initiatives. Teves holds a master of public policy from USC and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton.