Skip To Content
Cal Poly Pomona

PolyCentric University News Center

Main Menu
  • About Our University
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Expand/Collapse Menu
Browse: Home / 2022 / September / National Delegation of Higher Ed Leaders Convene at Cal Poly Pomona

Menu

  • About
    • Submissions
    • Contact
    • Department of Strategic Communications
    • PolyCentric
  • News
    • Browse by Topic
    • View All Stories
    • In Memoriam
    • Archives
  • Achievements
  • Announcements
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events
  • For the Media

National Delegation of Higher Ed Leaders Convene at Cal Poly Pomona

Posted on September 1, 2022

A roundtable discussion during the LMI conference at Cal Poly Pomona.

Cal Poly Pomona recently hosted 37 participants from across the nation at the 19th Annual Leadership and Mentoring Institute (LMI) — a weeklong forum designed to develop and advance African American higher education leaders into senior-level positions.

The in-depth program brought together professionals aspiring to senior-level roles with higher education leaders for a week to address the unique and often complex challenges they may encounter as an administrator of color. Using collaborative leadership, the group split into small teams to develop strategies addressing various hot-button issues culminating in a simulated press conference. Topics included budget cuts, gender equity in sports, neo-nationalism, the return from COVID-19 and more.

President Coley speaks during the LMI Conference at Cal Poly Pomona.

Established in 2003, LMI is an annual program offered through the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. In its 19 years, the program has served over 300 participants that most often started in assistant professor or other mid-level administrative positions. Over the years, more than 65 percent of participants have been promoted to senior leadership positions such as chief executive officers, chief financial officers, deans and other senior-level roles.

Barbara Johnson was part of the inaugural cohort — beginning her journey as an assistant professor of higher education and graduate coordinator — and later would return in 2009 to become the program’s director. Her work helps focus the program on changing the landscape of higher education — especially in places where there is still much work to be done.

“At predominantly white institutions, they often say there’s no one of color to move into senior leadership, so we began this program to prepare people of color for these positions,” Johnson said.

Southern U.S. institutions have traditionally hosted LMI; however, this year, Johnson knew she wanted to work with Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya M. Coley — a move that brought the program to the West Coast for its first time.

“The one thing you constantly hear about with the CSU, through Grad Initiative 2025 and more, is diversity. Dr. Coley’s national reputation as an innovator dedicated to closing equity gaps made Cal Poly Pomona the perfect place to host our forum.”

President Coley then reached out to each CSU president to invite them to nominate a faculty or mid-level administrator to attend LMI.

“I’m so pleased that Cal Poly Pomona is hosting this critical program, and I’m even more proud that we’re the first campus in the region to do so,” said President Coley. “Few priorities in higher education are more pressing than our work to foster diversity, equity and inclusion that underlies student success on our campuses. The Leadership and Mentoring Institute is at the forefront of this work.”

Coley nominated two CPP attendees, Brandon Tuck, director of admissions, and Janetta Dismuke, director of first year and transitions, to join the cohort.

“I attended LMI with an open mind and did not know there would be the possibility of creating lasting relationships with people. The faculty of LMI quickly reminded us that this is an institute, not a conference. Each day, we worked to grow as leaders and develop our brand in higher education. I left with a renewed spirit and hunger as I continue to move forward in my career,” Tuck said.

President Coley poses with other CSU Presidents.

In conclusion, President Soraya M. Coley moderated “The Road to the Presidency,” a Q&A panel. In this session, CSU presidents Jane Conoley (Long Beach), Tomás Morales (San Bernardino), Thomas Parham (Dominguez Hills) and Framroze Virjee (Fullerton) shared highlights of their personal experiences and lessons learned over the years.

However, the end of this forum was just the beginning of the participant’s leadership journey, as attendees returned to their home institutions fully integrated into a network of support from professionals throughout the country.

Dismuke shared her excitement to kick off these new partnerships. “What I love the most about the LMI is that it’s just the start of a lifelong learning process. I have connected with 36 other LMI leaders in my cohort and will continue to stay connected to collaborate, support and develop one another through the years.”

Learn more about the Leadership and Mentoring Institute on their website.

Posted in News | Tags African American higher education leaders, American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, Annual Leadership and Mentoring Institute, Barbara Johnson, Brandon Tuck, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, CSU San Bernardino, CSU system, Framroze Virjee, Graduation Initiative 2025, Jane Conoley, Janetta Dismuke, LMI, President Coley, Thomas Parham, Tomás Morales

POPULAR

  • The Road to Reclamation float going down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena during the Rose Parade.

    Cal Poly 2023 Rose Float Wins Extraordinaire Award

    2377 views / Posted January 2, 2023
  • Billy Bronco at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Silver Streak rapid bus line.

    CPP to DTLA: Silver Streak Bus Stop Arrives on Campus

    1068 views / Posted January 23, 2023
  • A group of people sitting at a table listening to a discussion.

    CPP Black History Month Events Geared to Educate, Inspire, and Activate Change

    318 views / Posted January 24, 2023
  • Kellogg Honors College - graduating class of 2022

    Kellogg Honors College Celebrates 20th Anniversary

    253 views / Posted January 4, 2023
  • The rehabilitation and widening of University Drive creates a dedicated shuttle lane while still accommodating two-way traffic.

    University Drive Reopens After Completion of Rehabilitation Project

    231 views / Posted January 3, 2023

Cal Poly Pomona in the News »

3 Arabian foals born at Cal Poly Pomona continue nearly 100-year legacy (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

Three Arabian foals were born in the past week at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly Pomona, with four more expected in the next week. The center…

Foothill Transit’s Silver Streak comes to CPP (Streetsblog LA)


Prof. Alane Daugherty explains what science says about embracing novelty (Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper)


Prof. Linchi Kwok: Big changes in 2023 for hospitality and tourism industry (Hospitality Net)


CPP student team wins first place in international Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (Rochester Institute of Technology)


Tags
African American higher education leaders, American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, Annual Leadership and Mentoring Institute, Barbara Johnson, Brandon Tuck, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, CSU San Bernardino, CSU system, Framroze Virjee, Graduation Initiative 2025, Jane Conoley, Janetta Dismuke, LMI, President Coley, Thomas Parham, Tomás Morales
About Cal Poly Pomona Feedback Privacy Accessibility Document Readers

3801 West Temple Avenue,Pomona, CA 91768

©2021 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

All Rights Reserved