President Soraya M. Coley Honored by LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis for Her Transformative Leadership
At the June 24 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, President Soraya M. Coley was honored by Supervisor Hilda Solis for her decade of transformative leadership and her upcoming retirement.
Coley, the sixth president of Cal Poly Pomona, will retire at the end of July 2025. During her 10-year tenure, she championed student success through initiatives like the CARE Center, expanded academic advising, and led significant investments in campus facilities and student housing. Under her leadership, approximately 60,900 students graduated, and the university solidified its reputation as a national leader in social mobility and inclusive polytechnic education.
In a heartfelt tribute, Solis honored Coley — the first woman and first African American to lead the university — as a visionary educator and steadfast advocate for student success. She highlighted their close partnership in advancing initiatives for educational access, mental health, food and housing security and public health, including the launch of the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Cal Poly Pomona and food distribution events serving the East San Gabriel Valley.
“One of the most powerful hallmarks of Dr. Coley’s presidency has been her collaborative spirit,” Solis said during the ceremony. “As a tireless champion for social justice and opportunity, I have found in Dr. Coley a partner equally passionate about uplifting underserved communities. Together we have demonstrated what is possible when education, community service and government leadership work hand in hand.”
Coley, joined by her husband, retired Lt. Col. Ron Coley, reflected on her tenure and the university’s mission to provide opportunities to underserved students and communities. She praised Cal Poly Pomona’s national leadership in social mobility and its role as a launchpad for first-generation students and future changemakers, particularly in STEM and other high-impact fields.
Coley also recognized Solis’ (‘79, political science) alumna connection, and whose leadership and advocacy serve as inspiration for students. Solis has held numerous leadership positions at the local, state and federal levels throughout her distinguished career, including U.S. Secretary of Labor (2009-13), U.S. Representative (2001-09), State Senator (1994-2000) and State Assemblymember (1992-94).
“We’re not just launching careers, we’re launching the next generation,” Coley said. “We’re helping families rise, communities thrive and futures take flight in new disciplines of study that contribute to societal advancement and individual family and community wellbeing. This recognition today is not just for me. It’s for every faculty member, every staff member and administrator, every student and our alumni as well as other stakeholders who believe in the power of public higher education.”
View the ceremony featuring remarks by Coley and Solis (starting at 26:36).