Julie Lappin, director of governmental and external affairs at Cal Poly Pomona, has accepted a position at Cal State San Bernardino as the Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President in the Office of the President. Her last day at Cal Poly Pomona is March 16.

As director, Lappin coordinates the governmental and external relations activities for the campus, and she serves as the primary liaison between the Office of the President and all local, state and federal governmental officials and staff. She also develops relationships with international contacts, university partners, community leaders, and the CSU’s Office of Advocacy and State Relations and Office of Federal Relations.

“Julie has been a committed advocate for Cal Poly Pomona. While this position is a tremendous career opportunity, it is also a loss for our campus,” says university President Soraya M. Coley. “On a personal level, I have enjoyed working with Julie and value her expertise and warmth in cultivating collaborative relationships with our elected officials and community members. On behalf of the entire university family, we wish her all the best.”

As chief of staff, Lappin will be a member of the president’s cabinet and participate in key operational and strategic efforts, as well as liaise with the CSU Chancellor’s Office and General Council.

Prior to joining Cal Poly Pomona, Lappin held a number of positions at Cal State San Bernardino, including working in Strategic Planning, the Water Resources Institute, the Alliance for Commercialization of Technology, and the Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization.