Advisory Committee

Dr. Soraya M. Coley is the sixth president of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). An accomplished educator and administrator with four decades experience in higher education, Dr. Coley is the first woman to be named president of Cal Poly Pomona. She has ushered in a new era of strategic leadership for the campus, establishing a vision for Cal Poly Pomona as a model for an inclusive polytechnic university that inspires creativity, discovery and innovation, embraces local and global challenges, and transforms lives.

As president, Dr. Coley leads an institution with nearly 30,000 students and 2,700 faculty and staff. Under her leadership, Cal Poly Pomona has continued to grow its legacy as the most diverse polytechnic university in the country and as a national leader in promoting social and economic mobility. Dr. Coley formally took office in January 2015, and during her tenure enrollment has grown by 6,000 students and graduation rates have reached historic levels.

A student-centered, faculty- and staff-focused and community-minded administrator, Dr. Coley has led a campus-wide effort charting a new course for Cal Poly Pomona that will define the university for decades to come. To guide this effort, Dr. Coley led the creation of a new strategic plan and launched planning processes to re-envision both the academic enterprise and the campus’ physical presence. As part of Dr. Coley’s student-centered focus, Cal Poly Pomona has made a historic transition from quarters to semesters — a move that will improve the academic experience for students and increase career opportunities both during their time at Cal Poly Pomona and after they graduate.

Coley came to Cal Poly Pomona from California State University, Bakersfield, where she was the provost and vice president for academic affairs from 2005 to 2014. She served as interim vice president for university advancement from 2011 to 2012. She has also held positions at California State University, Fullerton, the National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, and Alliant International University.

In 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Pres. Coley to the California Future of Work Commission, which is charged with making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the kinds of jobs Californians could have in the decades to come, the impact of technology, methods of promoting better job quality, modernizing worker safety net protections, and ready the state's workforce for the jobs of the future through lifelong learning.

Dr. Coley is also a member of the American Council on Education Women’s Network, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative, and the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs. She is a former member of the board of directors for Children and Family Futures as well as the Kern County Schools’ “Ready to Start” program. In 2000, she was recognized as “One of Ten Women Making a Difference” by Orange County Metro Magazine.

Coley earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Lincoln University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in social planning and social research from Bryn Mawr College.

She is married to Ron Coley, who served two decades of active duty as a pilot in the Marine Corps, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his military service, Mr. Coley enjoyed a distinguished career in public service and higher education administration, including six years as Senior County Administrator in Orange County, California, and multiple senior positions at the University of California.

Dr. Terri Gomez has been a member of the Cal Poly Pomona community for 24 years, starting first as a lecturer and rising to the rank of Full Professor in the Department of Ethnic and Women’s Studies. She has served in a range of administrative roles including Department Chair and Interim Associate Dean in the College of Education and Integrative Studies, as well as Interim Associate Vice President before being appointed in 2018 as the inaugural Associate Vice President for Student Success. In 2020 she was named Associate Provost for Student Success, Equity and Innovation with an expanded portfolio that includes Academic Advising, the Bronco Advising Center, Undeclared Advising, Early Start, Learning Resource Center, First-Year Experience, Common Read, PolyTransfer, STEM Success, Academic Innovation, Student Innovation Ideas lab, Kellogg Honors College, Center for Community Service Learning, Office of Undergraduate Research and the TRiO-funded Reading and Mentoring Program (RAMP). 

Dr. Gomez is a nationally recognized leader for her work on student success and developing innovative programs to address the needs of diverse student populations. In 2016, Dr. Gomez was responsible for the launch of the Office of Student Success at Cal Poly Pomona to focus our campus efforts as part of the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025. By developing a range of campus partnerships, support programs and academic interventions, she has led advances in student retention, persistence and graduation with the ultimate goal of eliminating equity gaps for our most vulnerable students.

 Paul Martinez is the chief leadership and human capital strategist for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
(WKKF) in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, he supports the foundation’s efforts to promote
thriving children, working families and equitable communities.

Martinez is responsible for leadership capacity building at all levels of the WKKF, executive
coaching, organizational development, maximizing the Foundation’s human capital, and the
execution of WKKF’s leadership fellows program and alumni network. As a member of the
executive team, he leads the learning and development of the leadership grantmaking approach,
in collaboration and partnership with grantees, communities and other stakeholders in the
foundation’s priority place in the United States; and internationally, in Mexico and Haiti.
Previously, Martinez served as an executive coach with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
from 2009-2019, where he supported the growth and development of global executives in a number
of open enrollment and custom programs. From 2016-2018, Martinez was a senior faculty member
at the CCL, where he was responsible for oversight, design, delivery and maintaining high-quality
standards of CCL’s premier apex program in the United States, Singapore and Europe. He also
developed, designed and delivered custom leadership development programs for a range of clients
in the government, for-profit, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, as well as other open enrollment
programs.

Since 2008, Martinez has managed his own consulting firm, Dynamic Solutions USA, LLC. As a
consultant, he guided individuals, teams and organizations to maximize their leadership capacity,
performance and potential by defining tactical and strategic organizational challenges and
opportunities, and designing customized leadership and organizational development solutions to
meet organizational objectives.

Prior to his roles with Dynamic Solutions USA and CCL, Martinez held various leadership
positions with the U.S. Army, Blockbuster Music, State Farm and USAA. He created and facilitated
curriculum for El Pomar’s Multicultural Youth Leadership Initiative, Leadership Pike’s Peak’s
Signature, Leadership NOW, and Leading Edge programs; as well as Leadership Pueblo.
Experienced across multiple sectors including for-profit, nonprofit and government; he worked
primarily with senior teams to define the leadership needed to achieve organizational success and
helped clients develop capabilities in the areas of high-performance leadership and teamwork, trust, coaching, human capital/talent development, employee engagement and culture.
He has served on and facilitated numerous committees, contributed to a monthly leadership column, has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer, and participated on several advisory committees.
He is certified in more than a dozen leadership, professional development and management assessment tools, and most recently, designed and authored The Trust Dynamic 360 assessment tool. He is also a member of the National and the Colorado Speaker’s Associations.

Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science in management from Regis University and a Doctor of Philosophy in leadership and organizational development from the University of the Rockies.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

John Lambert received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science at Michigan State University. After graduation, he owned and operated Lambert Arabians where he trained and showed many purebred and half-Arabian horses to National Championships in the Open and Amateur divisions. John closed Lambert Arabians to take the position as head trainer at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly University, Pomona. During that time, John was instrumental in developing the annual Production Auction, which now has the reputation as the go-to auction for young show and breeding prospects. John also had a major impact with the breeding herd at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. In this role John was instrumental in soliciting donations from stallion owners to the industry’s leading sires to produce several very exciting groups of foals. John is proud to hold his Large R Arabian judges card, judging every major show in North America, including the U.S. National Championships, Canadian National Championships and Scottsdale All Arabian Horse Show. John is also a sought-after International Judge.

John Lambert left Cal Poly for a short time to manage and train for Stachowski Farms West, a division of the largest Arabian training operation in the world. Lambert is now very excited to return in his new role as Executive Director of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly Pomona. He looks forward to connecting the Arabian Horse Center to the Arabian horse industry as well as engaging with the local community. More importantly, John looks forward to engaging the students, faculty and staff, while making the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center a more interactive facility on campus.

Linda , daughter of Leland and Esther May Mekeel, was born into a family that loved Arabian Horses. The Mekeel’s purchased their first Arabian mares from the W K Kellogg Ranch, Pomona, California, the year they were married in 1938. The wonderful years of growing up with horses ,showing and caring for them led to a life time with horses.

Highlights of the best life ever

Two wonderful sons
John Madsen (Rebecca) and 2 twin granddaughters (Avery and Brooke)
Terry Madsen (Bethany and 3 amazing grandsons (Wil Gabriel and Jesse)

After high school, Linda enrolled at Cal Poly, Pomona in the first year that included women students.
Graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Science.
Continued college and earned a Fifth Year Teaching Credential
Taught school for one year, but chose to return to the farm life full time

Managed the Mekeel Ranch breeding, foal and show ring competitions, one of the largest Arabian Farms in USA and honored as one of the Breeders of the Century at ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky in 2000.
Today, manages Milky Way Thoroughbred Farm in Temecula, California, which currently stand 12 stallions, which during last breeding season bred 225 mares. During the foaling season, the farm delivers around 120 foals each year.

I have been professionally training Arabians for 42 years.  My wife Caralyn Schroter and I currently own and successfully operate RBC Show Horses, LLC in Smithfield, NC. We have anywhere from 50 to 60 training horses for clients all over the United States and Canada. I have been professionally training Arabians for 42 years.

I am an active member of AHA, APAHA and USEF. I currently serve on the APAHA Board of Directors, AWPA Board of Directors, AHA Commissioners Review Board, Region 12 Vice Directory, as well as a member of the Cal Poly Advisory Committee.  Our farm RBC Show Horses hosts an Open House each year to help promote and education newcomers to the Arabian Industry.

In 2018, I was inducted into the APAHA Hall of Fame, after being named Horseman of the Year in 2014 and 2017 as well as Professional Western Trainer of the year in 2017.

I have had incredible opportunities to provide knowledge and guidance to many major breeders and trainers in the Arabian Industry.  Such as, Dolorosa Arabians Ltd which was APAHA Breeder of the Year in 2004, as well as Palmetto Arabians which is now an APAHA Hall Of Fame breeder of the Year inductee.

My passion in life is to promote the Arabian horse through breeding, training, and showing. I am very honored to be involved with the Kellogg Horse Center and their promotion and passion of the Arabian horse.

Equine Accomplishments

Education

• Bachelors from Pepperdine University

Nancy Harvey is the immediate past president of the Arabian Horse Association and has a long history of being a USEF Licensed Official. With 40+ years of dedication to the equine industry, Nancy has acquired a wealth of knowledge through various experiences as an amateur, trainer, exhibitor, recreational rider, show secretary and show manager. Nancy has utilized her knowledge and experience through advocation for the Arabian, along with other breeds as well, by volunteering her time with numerous foundations, associations, and other organizations.

Paula Hitzler’s career with horses spans nearly 45 years.  Paula entered the horse world at the age of nine when she began showing her family’s Arabian horses.  By the time Paula turned 18, she had numerous regional and national titles under her belt.  Paula then went on to attend Michigan State University and enroll in its Animal Science program.  Upon graduating from MSU, Paula left Michigan to manage Dallas-based Zodiac Farm’s breeding operation.  From Texas, Paula went on to Sonoma, California, where she managed Saddle Rock Ranch.  It was also at that time when she began her teaching career.  Paula taught Horse Management courses at California’s San Joaquin Delta College and Santa Rosa Junior College.

In 1989, Paula was asked by her alma mater to return to Michigan to manage Michigan State University’s Horse Teaching and Research Center.  It was a perfect match – she never left and continues as its manager.  Paula teaches many of the Institute of Agricultural Technology Horse Management courses offered by MSU’s Department of Animal Science.  These courses include starting horses under saddle, advanced horsemanship, introduction to horse science lab, young horse handling and labs in reproduction and breeding farm management.  Paula’s proudest moments have occurred when the MSU students she has taught have shown MSU bred and trained horses to numerous regional and national titles. 

Janina Merz is a 4th generation horse breeder and the owner of Om El Arab. Janina’s mother, the late Sigi Siller, founded the farm in 1970, in Germany’s Black Forrest region. In 1984, with the incomparable success of Om El Arab-bred horses in Europe, the family decided to expand their breeding operation to the Santa Ynez Valley, in California, where it is located today.

Om El Arab has full-service breeding capabilities, including ultrasounds, embryo transfers, collecting, cooling, and shipping semen, with supporting facilities for foaling and herd management. These operations are combined with training, showing, promotion, education, riding, and sales. Over the past 52 years, Om El Arab has become one of the most successful private Arabian horse breeding programs, with champion horses worldwide carrying their bloodlines.

Janina worked along side her mom since 1998, and took over sole ownership and management of Om El Arab in 2016. She is the current Secretary for the Santa Ynez Valley Arabian Horse Club, and has served in various Board of Director positions for the club. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Arabian Breeders World Cup.

John J. Resich Jr. is an attorney and rancher and serves as chairman of the board and vice president of development of Green Hills Memorial Park, where he has designed, constructed and overseen the development of 17 projects over the last 15 years. He provides legal representation to cemeteries throughout California, gives legal advice concerning legislation and has testified as an expert witness for the cemetery industry. Resich owns ranching and farming operations in Wyoming, raising cattle and crops including corn, beans, alfalfa and grass. He earned his law degree at Santa Clara University in 1972. He received his master’s degree in business at Chapman University in 2001. Resich founded the Marine Mammal Care Center, which rescues marine mammals and releases them back into the environment after they are treated, and is a former founding member of the San Pedro Peninsula Hospital Foundation. He also is a board member of the Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation and the Huntley College Board of Advisors.

Margaret West Rich, grew up with Arabian horses. Her father and mother purchased the family’s first Arabian horses from several foundation breeders located in Southern California. The most influential were Herbert H. Reese and Gladys Brown Edwards. At the time Mr. Reese was overseeing the Kellogg Arabian horses located where Cal Poly Pomona stands today and Gladys was working as Mr. Reese’s secretary. After graduation from U.C. Berkley Margaret took on the responsibility of running Green Acres Ranch. She brought the ranch and its horses into the 21st century.

Today, Green Acres introduces hundreds of individuals yearly to the Arabian horse through its very large lesson program that uses primarily Arabian horses and a few other breeds.
GAIT (Green Acres Interactive Therapy) is a therapeutic riding program that Margaret founded over 30 years ago. GAIT is located at Green Acres Ranch and also embraces Arabian horse in its lessons.
Margaret is a licensed Arabian horse judge who served over 20 years on the Education and Evaluation Commission. She also served two terms on the BOD of the Arabian Horse Association as Director from Region 1.

Margaret’s knowledge and expertise in the Horse industry benefits countless individuals. She has helped guide and shape the future of our horse community as not just a professional horsewoman but as a community leader. She was most recently recognized as 2021 Women of the Year for the State of California District 28.

Margaret has served as a member of the Cal Poly Pomona President’s Arabian Horse Advisory Committee since 2012.