Moving Forward

Instagram: dramyfleischer

Twitter: @amyfleischer

LinkedIn: Amy Fleischer

In this issue of Engineering Advantage, we highlight the many wonderful ways in which our faculty and students are making a positive impact on the world around them. Throughout these pages, you will see that Cal Poly Engineering is accomplishing a clear mission — providing an excellent Learn by Doing engineering and computer science education in which our students learn to innovate, design and create sustainable solutions to real-world challenges.

In fact, we proudly rolled out this new mission in December 2022, along with a new vision, values and strategic priorities as part of our 2022-2027 strategic plan (see page 20). The road to our newly implemented mission and vision was truly a collaborative one. Over a one-year period, more than 1,600 members of our College of Engineering community participated in the plan formation in some way – be it through a workshop, survey, focus group or interview. A truly dedicated 15-member committee of students, faculty and staff members across the college then sorted through all that input to identify common themes and develop the cornerstones of our five-year plan strategic plan.

Together, we will use this plan to focus our efforts over the next five years, including using the impending transition to semesters as a true opportunity to advance key aspects of our vision and strategic priorities. We will utilize this curricular transformation to embed a focus on student success as we design unique and inclusive Learn by Doing educational and applied research experiences. Our strategic plan will set the foundation for great things to happen as we move forward.

Amy S. Fleischer Dean, College of Engineering

Dean’s Advisory Council

Kim Vorrath (Computer Science, ‘88), Chair

—Apple Inc.

Beena Ammanath

—Deloitte US

Geoff Austin (Industrial Engineering, ‘92)

—Principal Consultant – Flywheel Consultants

—Clinical Instructor – University of Washington Medical Center / Northwest Hospital and Medical Center

Steve Beeks

—NEXT Strategy Advisors

Brent Fogg (Civil Engineering, ‘06)

—Granite Construction Inc.

Peter Gillespie (Mechanical Engineering, ‘86)

—Advanced Energy

Michael Huggins

—Air Force Research Laboratory

Aerospace Systems Directorate

Teniel Jones (Industrial Engineering, ‘02)

—Base 11

Leslie Livesay (Mathematics, ‘85)

—NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

—Northrop Grumman Air Dominance Division

Kevin Neifert (Mechanical Engineering, ‘84)

—Thales North America

Wilbert Odisho (Electrical Engineering, ‘95)

—KLA Corp.

David Rosa (Mechanical Engineering, ‘89)

—Intuitive Surgical

Tim Seidel

—Phillips 66

—Western Allied Mechanical Inc.

Bill Watkins (Mechanical Engineering, ‘98)

—Solar Turbines Inc.

Bob Weiss (Materials Engineering, ‘05)

—Boeing

Jocelyn Williams

—Raytheon Intelligence and Space

Dee Wilson (Aerospace Engineering, ‘97)

—General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

Honored Alumna Angie Simon

Congratulations to Dean’s Advisory Board member Angela Simon (Environmental Engineering, ’86), who was named Cal Poly Engineering’s 2022 Honored Alumni.

Simon is an advocate of the College of Engineering and Cal Poly Athletics. A former softball player, Simon has created a scholarship to support female athletes in the College of Engineering.

She currently serves as an advisor to the board at Western Allied Mechanical Inc. and is the president and co-founder of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, a summer camp opportunity for high school youth to learn about trades.

Watch Simon’s Honored Alumni video using the QR code above.

‘86)