Divisionwide Leaders

Kevin Grant, Ed.D.

Senior Director of Assessment and Research

Dr. Kevin Grant, who joined Cal Poly in July 2017, heads the divisionwide assessment and research practices in Student Affairs, including strategic plan leadership, success measurement of strategic initiatives, mapping co-curricular learning, program review oversight, university survey development, and tracking of student learning outcomes/student engagement as they relate to student success. In addition to his work in Student Affairs Assessment and Research, he also serves as a lecturer with the HECSA Program.

With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Grant specializes in student affairs assessment, strategic planning, program development, and academic student support. Dr. Grant serves as Executive Director for WITH US: The Center for Bystander Intervention at Cal Poly (withus.org) and oversees the National College Student Bystander Intervention Study (NCSBIS). This national study explores bystander behaviors and barriers amongst college students within the areas of Sexual Violence, Incidents of Hate & Bias, Hazing, and Alcohol and Drug Misuse/Abuse.   

Dr. Grant is a regular presenter within WSCUC Educational Programs and serves as Assessment Leadership Academy faculty and program mentor. Within NASPA, he served as the national co-chair for the Assessment, Evaluation and Research Knowledge Community and has been the recipient of the NASPA Research Grant. He has taught/presented internationally, and works with various universities consulting on student affairs assessment. 

Dr. Grant received his bachelor's degree in cinema media arts from Biola University, M.Ed. in college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University, and doctorate from Biola University in higher education administration. He lives on a small ranch in Atascadero, California, with his wife and three teenage kids, and enjoys hiking, camping, playing guitars, horticulture and caring for all the animals on “the Granch.”

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Ryan Weisenberg

Senior Director of Development

Ryan Weisenberg leads strategic fundraising efforts for Student Affairs. His work is key in advancing student success by building relationships with donors and supporters of Student Affairs to develop transformative programs; ensure student equity, social justice, belonging and well-being; and support and empower all students throughout their Cal Poly experience.

Prior to joining Cal Poly in June 2024, Weisenberg served as director of development and enrollment at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. During his tenure, he played a key role in enhancing the school’s endowment and increasing student enrollment.

Weisenberg also had a distinguished coaching career across various levels of basketball, including serving as head women’s basketball coach for Pepperdine University as well as coaching stints for the Manawatu Jets in New Zealand, the Houston Comets, Mater Dei High School and South Pasadena High School. He contributed to the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002; and was instrumental in leading the Los Angeles Sparks to three consecutive WNBA Finals, winning titles in 2001 and 2002 — making him one of the few individuals to have won NBA and WNBA championships in the same year.

A Cal Poly alumnus, Weisenberg earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Poly and a master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University. He is married to Lyndsey Weisenberg (née Hache'), a former standout player for the Pepperdine women's volleyball team who serves as middle school director and science teacher at Old Mission School in San Luis Obispo. The couple has three children: Daly, Reese and Jack.

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Cuong Nguyen

Associate Director of Personnel for Student Affairs

As the associate director of personnel for Student Affairs, Cuong Nguyen is responsible for the strategic management and oversight of all personnel functions for faculty, staff, and management employees within the Division of Student Affairs. The position is a key member of the Student Affairs leadership team (SALT) and provides personnel policy analysis and strategic consultations to the vice president, senior leaders, managers, faculty and staff within the division.

Before joining Student Affairs, Nguyen was the head of people at Playworks, a national nonprofit working towards ensuring that every kid has safe and healthy play every day, where he was charged with developing and executing the organization’s strategy to attract, develop, retain, and promote high-performing staff at all levels of the organization. He previously held management and HR leadership roles at Net Impact and New York City government and started his career as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras.

An alumnus of Cal Poly, Nguyen received his bachelor’s degree from the Orfalea College of Business and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. He is thrilled to call San Luis Obispo home and when he’s not on or near the soccer field with his son, he enjoys cooking as much as he can on weekends, picking up golf as a late-life hobby, and scheming up ways to use points and miles to take the next family vacation.

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Cynthia Lambert

Director of Educational Communications for Student Affairs

Cynthia Lambert develops and leads strategic communications initiatives to holistically support the division and advance its commitment to retaining and supporting a diverse and inclusive student body.

Lambert has 20 years of communication and journalism experience, including media relations, internal relations and public relations. She came to Cal Poly in 2016 as a communications specialist in University Communications and Marketing. She is passionate about students and the work she’s done to support campus DEI-related initiatives, including the Cal Poly Experience (CPX). Lambert also served as public information officer for the university’s Emergency Operations Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work during that time was recognized with a Outstanding Staff Award in 2022.

Previously, Lambert worked as a reporter for newspapers in California and Texas and led communications for a Sacramento-based nonprofit. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Cal Poly. Lambert lives in Santa Margarita and enjoys ballet, hiking, and exploring our beautiful county with husband Aaron and their two children.