Office of the President

Black Thriving Initiative Moving to Phase II

Dear Cal Poly Pomona Community,

Following a campus program held on February 19, I am pleased to announce the successful conclusion of Phase I of the Black Thriving Initiative (BTI) and the start of Phase II under the leadership of Dr. Cindy Pickett, Presidential Associate and Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for Black students, staff and faculty at Cal Poly Pomona.

Phase I of the BTI – Build Capacity and Consciousness – was initiated and led by Dr. Jonathan Grady, Senior Associate Vice President, Equity and Belonging in the Division of Student Affairs. Accomplishments within this phase include:

  • Implementing racial healing circles;
  • Providing one-to-one individual wellness coaching for Black students, staff and faculty;
  • Hiring a CAPS counselor focused on serving the Black community;
  • Listening sessions held by the Phase I BTI Workgroup with meaningful feedback from over 450 students, faculty, and staff to shape campus-wide recommendations and action steps in support of the success and vibrancy of Black individuals within our community;
  • Recruiting Dr. Pickett to the role of CDO, further strengthening our institutional commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Please join me in thanking Dr. Grady for his efforts in envisioning and executing Phase I of the BTI. His passion and advocacy have been instrumental in propelling this initiative forward. I also want to express appreciation to the members of the Phase I BTI Working Group, including Co-Chair Teshia Roby, for their support and leadership. I want to give special acknowledgment to La’Keisha Beard, Director of Residence Life and President of CPP’s Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA), for her unwavering commitment and voice.

As Dr. Pickett leads the BTI in Phase II, we will draw on the strong foundation of Phase I and align our action steps with three imperatives articulated in the Chancellor’s Office Black Student Success Workgroup Report. 

Over the next 15 months, we will:

  • Further invest in high-impact programs that support Black student persistence and retention by expanding their reach;
  • Create a faculty development program in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) to increase awareness of Black students’ experience in the classroom and provide faculty with tools and resources to improve the classroom experience of our Black students; and
  • Invest in our Black faculty and staff by raising visibility and awareness of the professional challenges and obstacles that Black staff and faculty experience within the academy through specialized training of our managers, as well as foster and expand community and professional development opportunities for Black faculty and staff through additional support of the BFSA.

Dr. Pickett will be convening a Phase II BTI Workgroup this Spring to facilitate continued campus collaboration and input on these and future initiatives. If you are interested in serving as a member of the Phase II workgroup, please email inclusive-excel@cpp.edu by March 11, 2024.

We invite all members of the Cal Poly Pomona community to join us in this important journey toward a more inclusive and equitable campus environment. Together, we can create a campus where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Sincerely yours,

Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President

Phase I BTI Working Group Members:
Dr. Jonathan Grady, Co-Chair
Dr. Teshia Roby, Co-Chair
Dr. Betty Alford
Kimberly Allain
Dr. Mary Ann Akers
Jared Ceja
Cynthia Cortez
Nyla Harris
Pat Hawthorne
Nicole Hawkes
Ashley Mascarenhas
Dr. Arah Parker
Dr. Kaitlyn Sedzmak
Ronald Whitehill
Marla Williams