After more than four decades in education, Dean M.G. “Peggy” Kelly plans to put away PowerPoint presentations and her laser pointer for good.
Kelly, who heads the College of Education & Integrative Studies, recently announced plans to retire this summer.
“It is time,” Kelly says. “You just know when it is time for another style of leadership for the college. And you know when it is time to begin a new life chapter. It is my time to make that change.”
Kelly came to Cal Poly Pomona in 2008 after more than 20 years as a faculty member and administrator at Cal State San Marcos. She has worked in the CSU Chancellor’s Office, as well as at Fresno State and Weber State University. She also worked for 16 years as a public school teacher, which made her a strong advocate for early childhood education throughout her career.
Provost Marten denBoer says Kelly’s decision to retire is good for the longtime educator but a tough loss for Cal Poly Pomona.
“I am, of course, happy for Peggy as she embarks on this new chapter in her life,” he says, “but I, and all of us at the university, will miss her very much.”
Under her leadership, the university’s first independent doctoral program was developed and launched. In addition, the early childhood studies program has been created and is going through the campus approval process. Multiple partnerships with school districts and community organizations have been forged under her watch.
Kelly set a goal to raise the profile of the college on campus and in the community, and did so by celebrating the work of students and faculty. She advocated the move of the college physically from the back of Building 5 to occupancy in Building 6, added spaces for students to gather in the courtyard of Building 94, and renovated offices and common spaces to make them more student-friendly.
The former president of the International Society for Technology in Education, Kelly was one of the principal authors of the National Educational Technology Standards for Students, Teachers and Administrators, and has written several books about implementing the standards.
“While Dean Kelly has significant other achievements to her credit … we will remember her especially for her many contributions to her college and the university,” denBoer says.