Cal Poly Pomona College brings in Dr. Pia Gupta as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Success
Southern California’s Cal Poly Pomona College of Business Administration has announced the appointment of Dr. Pia Gupta as its new Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Success, effective 7th July.
Dean Krishnamurthy says: “This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the college - one focused on empowering our students to connect with prosperous economic futures through purposeful, student focused support. As Associate Dean, Dr. Gupta will lead initiatives that strengthen student success and enhance academic outcomes across our programs.”
Dr. Gupta currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Finance at California State University, Long Beach, where she has guided the department since 2019. Under her leadership, it expanded academic offerings, elevated student engagement, and improved hiring and retention practices.
Her work includes graduation initiatives, early alert systems, and academic advising reforms, and she has played a pivotal role in AACSB accreditation efforts, contributing to three successful re-accreditation cycles at CSULB through strategic planning, report writing, and peer review engagement.
The @calstate university system is facing a proposed $144 million budget cut in 2025-26 — CPP's cut is $7.8 million — that would create serious consequences for our students, faculty, and staff.
— Cal Poly Pomona (@calpolypomona) June 13, 2025
Your advocacy already helped reduce the cut from $375 to $144 million and there’s… pic.twitter.com/eyKKZrC2Sn
A champion of experiential learning, Dr. Gupta co-founded CSULB’s Finance Symposium - now a statewide platform connecting students and professionals - and was instrumental in launching the university’s STEM designated Master of Financial Analytics program.
“I’m thrilled by the opportunity to join Cal Poly Pomona, where the energy of amazing students, the hands on polytechnic "learn by doing" model, industry connections, and the caliber of distinguished faculty create an ideal environment for innovation and impact,” she says.
“As Associate Dean for Student Success, I see my role as a collaborative and student centered leader who brings national best practices to our shared work - partnering with faculty, staff, and students to cultivate a culture of excellence and inclusion. To advance undergraduate student success, I aim to help build a streamlined and well organized operation that supports every student’s journey. Together, we can create meaningful changes that make a lasting difference in the lives of our students.”
Avanade AI & Innovation Center
Cal Poly Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center. Located in the university's Innovation Village research park, the facility will focus AI research, collaboration, and learning, and aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
It has hired recent Cal Poly Pomona graduates as its first five team members, and plans to provide more real-world opportunities for students and alumni in the coming years. It will host AI applied research groups, sponsor student events such as hackathons and workshops, showcase cutting-edge innovations, and share industry trends.
"This is a testament to our continued commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape," says Gord Mawhinney, Americas, President at Avanade. "Through our decade long partnership with Cal Poly Pomona, we are not only advancing AI innovation but also together creating opportunities for underserved communities to access technology and career pathways."
"This partnership with Avanade exemplifies our mission to foster innovation, inclusion, and excellence in preparing our students for career success. By combining our academic expertise with Avanade's industry leadership, we are creating a platform that empowers our students and faculty to shape the future of AI and harness its transformative power responsibly," comments Cal Poly Pomona President Dr. Soraya M. Coley. "We stand at the precipice of the future, and it will take the brightest minds working at the world's preeminent companies to ensure a better future for all, and that is why we are honored to be partnering with Avanade."
